World Cup 2018: England star Ruben Loftus-Cheek ready to fire Three Lions into the knockout stage
Chelsea star is set to start against Panama after impressing in a cameo against Tunisia
RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK is ready to be England’s Mr Ice Cool and fire them into the World Cup knockout stage.
The Chelsea midfielder looks set to start against Panama today as a reward for keeping a cool head against Tunisia, when Gareth Southgate’s side were frantically searching for a winner.
Even the Volgograd Arena midges going in his eyes and mouth when he came off the bench could not knock him off his stride.
Loftus-Cheek, 22, said: “I have never had a problem in not staying calm.
“That’s kind of my football. I have always been calm on the ball. There is no point in panicking in those situations, it just makes things worse.
“You have to stay calm, cool and collected. You need to be in the right frame of mind for when chances come. You play your best football when you are calm.
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“My natural demeanour is that I’m a very calm person and relaxed. Since a young kid, I have always been calm on the ball. I think that comes down to awareness as well.
“When you have good awareness and you know what’s going on around you, you don’t need to panic.”
Loftus-Cheek came on for Dele Alli in Volgograd and the Tottenham star is still struggling with a thigh injury.
Southgate had plenty to choose from on his bench last Monday but went for Loftus-Cheek because he demands the ball even when under pressure — and then keeps possession.
The England boss had no reservations about his quality, the only concern heading into Russia was whether he could cope physically with matches in quick succession.
RLC was forced off injured against Brazil in November, just four days after completing 90 minutes against Germany.
But when he is on the pitch, the Stamford Bridge wonderkid is a Rolls-Royce midfielder with seemingly limitless time on the ball.
That could be one of the key ingredients against Panama, with the Central Americans certain to be flying into tackles.
Loftus-Cheek insisted: “I feel ready and I feel every player is ready.
“We’re looking really good in training.”
RLC has always been a laid-back character since his schooldays at Orchards Academy in Kent, where teachers remembered him coming in immaculately turned out.
He was good at table tennis, long-distance running and tennis but was already on Chelsea’s books and heading towards the England squad, where he has also been a cool customer.
Loftus-Cheek said: “That’s just how I am. I’m not shy, it’s just my demeanour.
“You have the clowns, your Jamie Vardys and stuff like that.
“And a few of us are just quieter. It’s natural, just more laid-back.”
Loftus-Cheek has an incentive to stay in the team as his family are coming later in the tournament to watch him play.
He said: “If we can get it done as quick as possible, that’s the best thing. Belgium is a difficult game.
“With all respect to Panama, it’s an easier game if you want to say it that way. If you can get a win in that game, then it’s for the better.
“But it’s every kid’s dream, isn’t it, to play in the World Cup? Even just to get on for ten minutes or so, you don’t realise on the pitch but afterwards you take it in.
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“Watching at home with your parents when you’re ten years old and you never think you’ll be there in the future . . . I’m really delighted.”
Loftus-Cheek grew up watching footage of his idol Zinedine Zidane — and now has the chance to shine on the biggest stage like his French hero.
He revealed: “When I came on against Tunisia, my goal simply was to have an impact.
“To try to make chances and try to get a contribution to make the team win. I wasn’t thinking, ‘I want to play well to start the next game’.
“It’s just that I want to do well for the team.
“I wasn’t afraid to get in the mix and get on the ball to try and make stuff happen.
“Gareth has brought me on as a sub to try to impact the game, so there was no way I was going to shy away from the ball in that moment.”
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