Being called up by your country for a World Cup is arguably the ultimate honour for a professional footballer as it is the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice.
With only 26 places on the plane up for grabs and a wealth of talent in every area of the pitch, getting called up by Gareth Southgate for the 2022 World Cup England squad is an incredible achievement.
The tournament kicks off very soon in Qatar with just one set of Premier League fixtures left to play before the break. We at 90min are taking a look at some of the best player reactions to getting the call-up.
Anyone getting their first-ever World Cup call-up is going to be even more excited than others. That is the case for Manchester City’s Phil Foden who absolutely deserves his place in the squad and is a serious candidate to start the first group game against Iran.
Foden shared a picture on Twitter of himself in an England shirt and captioned it: “It’s always an honour to be called up to the England squad but this is something else, my first World Cup, wow! Buzzin’! Can’t wait.”
It’s always an honour to be called up to the @England squad but this is something else, my first World Cup, wow! Buzzin’! Can’t wait 💪🏻🏴 pic.twitter.com/z8uhk6os4X
— Phil Foden (@PhilFoden) November 10, 2022
This was one of the most heartfelt reactions to being called up. There was a very real chance that James Maddison would not be called up to the squad and he was a major talking point in the hours running up to the announcement.
It is his first World Cup and he shared a picture of himself as a child wearing an England shirt with face paint on. The caption read: “It hasn’t sunk in… I’m going to The World Cup. Dreams really do come true.”
Kalvin Phillips has not managed to make too much of a splash at Manchester City since his move from Leeds United due to injury but Gareth Southgate has shown faith in him by adding the midfielder to the squad.
He is another heading to his first World Cup, and he said on Twitter: “Buzzing is an understatement! I’ve dreamt of the call to represent my country at the World Cup since I can remember. I can’t thank the England manager and staff enough for their faith in me, and I’ll do everything I can to repay that in Qatar. Bring on the World Cup!”
Buzzing is an understatement! I’ve dreamt of the call to represent my country at the World Cup since I can remember. I can’t thank the England manager and staff enough for their faith…
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