Kieran Trippier paid tribute to Harry Maguire after the Manchester United defender reached his half-century of caps with a throwback display.
England’s right-back saluted the efforts of the £80m defender as he led from the back as the Three Lions come under sustained pressure at the Al Bayt Stadium on Friday night.
Maguire’s career for his country has contained more highs than lows but issues surrounding his club form have dogged him during the past 12 months.
However, Trippier suggested that Maguire is a major influence inside Gareth Southgate’s squad and the head coach’s loyalty towards him has been repaid.
He said: ‘First, Harry’s a fantastic leader in our group, a big player in our group and to reach 50 caps is an amazing achievement. He’s had a good start to the tournament and I can only speak positively of him, the boys love him.
“I think he does his talking on the pitch and every time he has stepped out in that English shirt he has performed. So long may that continue and hopefully that means many more caps for Harry.”
Trippier said that he was looking forward to renewing rivalries with Wales’ skipper Gareth Bale. The two may have been rivals off the pitch when the right-back was playing for Atletico and former Spurs’ star Bale was at Real Madrid but they were neighbours off it.
He said: “I didn't play with him but obviously I lived not far from him, literally behind me in Madrid. I spent a lot of time with him, he’s another world-class player - I think the records speak for themselves with Gareth.
“But we know it's going to be a battle we need to be mentally ready. Against the US, we knew they were a good side. So we knew it was going to be a tough battle but in tournaments, you can't win every game so it is a good point for us.
“For us now, the motivation is there, England versus Wales is a massive game. So all we can do now is recover, review the game as to where we could have done better and get ready for the next battle.”
