World Cup

Ashley Young: 'England want a solid start'

By Jonny Whitfield, Reporter | 14 June 2018

England wing-back Ashley Young says that the Three Lions want to get their World Cup campaign off to a bright start with victory in their first game on Monday.

England wing-back Ashley Young has said that the Three Lions want to get their World Cup campaign off to a bright start with victory in their first game on Monday.

Gareth Southgate's side face Tunisia in their opener in Russia, having prepared for the tournament with wins over Nigeria and Costa Rica.

Manchester United defender Young told The Mirror that the key for England is to reproduce the fast start they had in both their pre-tournament friendlies.

"You talk about our results historically but we are here, we are looking to do well in training and do well in that first match," the 32-year-old said. "I think you can see from the last two friendly games we have started brightly and that can put teams on the back foot. It is what we are looking to do come the first game.

"It is always important to make a good start to a tournament. You want to get off to winning ways, each game is tough but we are fully prepared.

"That is what you want to do, everyone pressing from the back to the front then everyone knows if one of the forwards goes we go as a team."

England face Panama and Belgium in their other two Group G matches.