England vs Germany: Kieran Trippier wants to fly flag for Three Lions… just like his dad did during 2010 World Cup
KIERAN TRIPPIER will never forget where he was when England last played Germany in a competitive match.
It’s easy to remember when your dad decides to mark the 2010 World Cup by erecting a 15ft pole in his modest garden and flying a giant flag of St George.
The local council in Bury wrote and asked Trippier’s old man to take it down but he refused.
When England play in Russia next summer, the flag will be up again, despite a lack of planning permission.
Although builder Chris might not be sitting under it this time, as he may be in Russia watching his son, who played a key role in Tottenham’s destruction of Real Madrid and hopes to line up against Germany at Wembley on Friday night.
Anyone who claims football fans no longer have any passion for England and care only about their clubs, clearly haven’t met Trippier’s Manchester United-supporting father.
The 27-year-old Spurs star has a vivid memory of watching England’s 4-1 defeat by the Germans, during which Frank Lampard had a perfectly good goal disallowed.
Trippier said: “I remember the World Cup when Lampard hit the bar because my dad had a big flag in his garden.
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“The council tried to make him take it down but he didn’t.
“He brought the telly in the garden when it was nice weather. I can never forget it.
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MAURICIO POCHETTINO made Kieran Trippier feel fat when he signed him for Tottenham.
The England full-back, 27, joined from Burnley two years ago with his body-fat percentage better than most of his Clarets team-mates.
But when Spurs boss Poch’s medics gave him the ‘pinch more than an inch’ test, Trippier swears they pinched harder than they used to at Turf Moor.
He said: “I wasn’t in the best shape and the manager let me know that. Within six months, I was in great condition.
“You learn a lot from the nutritionists. It’s about eating at the right times or it’ll catch up with you. I thought I was in good shape. But they pinch you tougher at Tottenham.
“At Burnley, I’d enjoy myself with my missus and friends.
“But because at Tottenham we’re playing Saturday-Tuesday, even Wednesday-Sunday, and with the intensity we play at in the Champions League, we can’t afford a night out.
“Every player at Tottenham is in great shape.”
“The council wrote letters to him and everything but he said, ‘I’m not taking it down’. It was brilliant.
“He’s mad for England and Man United. It was hilarious. He’s already said he’ll put it up again next summer.”
Sitting in a room at the St George’s Park National Football Centre, the wing-back, who tortured Brazilian legend Marcelo last week, chuckled at his dad’s patriotism.
“The flagpole is massive. I’d say three-quarters of the way up that wall,” he said, gesturing up about 15ft.
“It’s a massive flag as well. It’s probably the same size of that one outside (pointing to vast flagpoles outside, which indicate the home of English football).
“And his garden’s not even that big.
“The neighbours love it. I don’t know who complained about it.
“He’s over the moon for me, playing for England. I’ll never forget when I made my debut in France, he was crying his eyes out. It still gives me the shivers, thinking of that game, when I put the jersey on, I knew I was going to play for England.
“Even when I was playing in the youth set-up, they were always proud.
“But for me to make it to the senior squad, it was one of the proudest moments.
“Dad’s always been a mad England fan and travelled a lot with me when I was in the youth set-up with England.
“It’s just a dream for me to be involved. And it’s the World Cup next year, I want to play as many games as I can in club football to, hopefully, prove I can be on that plane to Russia.”
Trippier, once released by Manchester City and playing in the Championship for Burnley only a couple of years ago, is living the dream now — Real Madrid one week, world champions Germany the next, followed by Brazil next Tuesday.
He said: “The Real match was good to be involved in. It was about enjoying it, trying to express myself and create as much as I could for my team.
“Obviously, you want English players playing in the Champions League against the very best.
“In my career I’ve had to work really hard, leaving City and going to the Championship to work my way back up.
“But I believed I could do it and I’m grateful to Burnley and Tottenham for letting me do it in the Premier League.”
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