Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge says he has a lot of love for England coach Gareth Southgate despite not being selected in the World Cup.
Sturridge has missed a lot of matches lately due to injuries.
After spending the second half of last season on loan at relegated West Bromwich Albion, Sturridge missed out on a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the World Cup.
The 28-year-old has scored eight goals in 26 full appearances for England. He played five games in the qualifying rounds, including the 1-0 win against Lithuania in October.
Sturridge said in a recent interview:
“Look, man, you can never say what could have been or I should have been there [World Cup[ or this. helped them get to the World Cup and I scored some goals on the journey. But I’m happy for everyone that went, too. Because you can never take these things personal.”
I’ve got a lot of love for Gareth Southgate. I think he’s a great guy. He’s doing a hell of a job. I think he’ll bring success to the country and I think the tournament which we did have, the World Cup which I wasn’t able to participate in. But the boys did a great job over there. They made the country proud. They made everyone proud. I was a fan, which, I was obviously an unhappy fan not being there. But a fan that I’m happy for the boys.”
The Liverpool forward also said that he will try his best to mark his name in the 2022 World Cup.
“I’ve played in two tournaments and scored goals that made the country go wild looking at pictures, at videos. And then you have the down side of missing out, but then that gives you the drive to be like, “OK, you arose. Next World Cup, I’m trying to be there, 100 percent.”