KIERAN TRIPPIER has named his perfect rondo squad from all the players he’s lined up with across his half century of England caps.
Rondos are a popular training exercise where attacking players form a circle and pass the ball to each other, while two defenders inside the ring try to intercept it.
Kieran Trippier revealed the eight best players when it comes to rondosReuters
Rondos have become a regular exercise in England trainingGetty
What is a rondo?
A rondo is when a group of players form a small circle or box around two or more players in the middle.
Those around the outside pass then ball around while those in the middle attempt to press and win it back.
If a player on the outside misplaces a pass or has there attempt intercepted then they replace their team-mate in the middle.
A number of factors often differ between rondos including the number of players, the number of touches allowed, the size of the circle and even sometimes the addition of goals to the box.
Newcastle star Trippier revealed they are a firm favourite with the Three Lions squad, particularly with John Stones, Kyle Walker and captain Harry Kane.
The 33-year-old explained: “The first thing before training every morning, the one thing we love to do is rondos.
“It’s the one thing that we really look forward to, me, Stonesy, Walks, Harry Kane.
“But the most annoying person is John Stones for sure.
“Stonesy knows how to wind me up. I try my best not to react but he knows me best so it’s hard not to react to him.”
Trippier clocked up his 50th cap in Thursday’s drab draw against Denmark, seven years after making his debut against France.
Asked for his ideal, eight-man rondo team from his time with England, the ex-Spurs man replied: “John Stones, Kyle Walker, Harry Kane, Danny Rose, Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford – Pickford is certainly one of those you can get under his skin and wind up – Phil Foden, because he’s technically so gifted, and Aaron Ramsdale.”
Meanwhile, Trippier insisted the England camp remains calm despite a disappointing performance in their 1-1 draw with Denmark.
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Trippier named ex-Tottenham and England team-mate Danny Rose in his rondo sideTimes Newspapers Ltd
Kieran Trippier’s all-time rondo line-up
The eight players in Kieran Trippier’s all-time rondo side:
John Stones
Kyle Walker
Harry Kane
Danny Rose
Harry Maguire
Jordan Pickford
Phil Foden
Aaron Ramsdale
Ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Slovenia, he said: “We’re all positive in the camp.
“We could be more happy, but the most important thing is that we stay together. [After the game] the dressing room was calm and relaxed.
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“Gareth [Southgate] and H [Harry Kane] had a few words. We’ve been in this situation before and it’s all about just staying calm, staying positive, because we’re going to need everybody.
“There’s a lot of noise but internally we stick together, as H said and as Gareth said.”
Pundits and legends lay into England
ENGLAND’s lifeless display in the 1-1 draw with Denmark left pundits and legends queuing up to take a dig at Gareth Southgate’s team.
Here’s the best of what was said…
ALAN SHEARER
“Awful performance, particularly after going up in the game.
“I don’t think one England player can look at themselves and say, ‘I’ve done my job tonight’.
“England were all over the place, far too sloppy in possession, gave the ball away too much and got caught too many times.
“There was no energy, no pace, no guile — Southgate is simply not getting the best out of England’s best players.
“It’s concerning and Gareth will get some serious questions.
“You saw England players lying on their backs — they look absolutely shattered but there’s no excuse for that.”
GARY LINEKER
The BBC host called the performance “lifeless and tepid”.
On Harry Kane he said: “He needs his manager to ask more of him. I would have expected that if I’d put in that kind of performance.”
RIO FERDINAND
“The players don’t look the same as they do for their clubs. It is a big concern.”
ROY KEANE
“Courage and bravery, we’re not really seeing it.
“There’s something amiss with the balance. Bellingham is waving his arms.
“This is a big test for Gareth. It looks like he’s overthinking things.”
JAMIE CARRAGHER
“My big worry watching this and for the rest of the tournament?
“England look absolutely knackered. They can’t get close to the ball.
“The surest sign of fatigue is dropping deep.
“Declan Rice is having to cover so much ground. No-one can convince me this is a strategy.”
JACK WILSHERE
“It’s strange that we have taken the lead in both games so far, yet instead of it settling us down and giving us the confidence to play, we have failed to take control.
“But what was most worrying was that Denmark had a clear way of playing — while we didn’t.”