The German tactician insisted “I have to earn my right to sing it” back in March 2025. Tuchel is not expected to change his stance during this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Gary Neville Explains Why He Didn’t Sing National Anthem
One member of England’s Golden Generation – the star-studded squad blessed with world-class players under Sven-Goran Eriksson, who reached three consecutive major tournament quarter-finals between 2002 and 2006 – was former Manchester United captain Gary Neville.
The legendary right-back made 85 appearances for England between 1995-2007 and went on to work as Roy Hodgson’s assistant during the ill-fated period between 2012 and 2016.
Speaking to his former teammate Rio Ferdinand on Rio Ferdinand Presents, Neville explained why he chose not to sing the national anthem as a player.
“I absolutely loved playing for my country,” Neville said. “I know people say at times I didn’t sing the national anthem. It was a mistake, that. I’m stubborn.”
He continued: “The idea of coming out and having to sing broke my routine. It broke my routine and I thought, I can’t, I’ve just got to focus. My first pass, the duel I’m about to encounter, my first tackle, my positioning on the pitch. I’m thinking about the game, and me and Steve McManaman didn’t sing the national anthem in the first game of Euro 96. We didn’t sing it in any of the games.
“And I always remember an FA councillor came up to me after the game in the dressing room. He said, sing the national anthem. And you can imagine an FA councillor coming up to me telling me to sing the national anthem. I’m not being told what to do. I dug my heels in and I was stubborn and I didn’t do it.
“But now, when I was a coach for England and now when, for instance, the national anthem’s being sung, I’m singing it. So I would sing it now in the summer when England play in the tournament. So now I see the way in which it’s interpreted, that that’s me not being patriotic.”
England would have an unstoppable starting line-up if these players had chosen to represent the Three Lions
Neville went on to highlight various difficulties that he experienced as an England player, including being booed and suffering abuse from fans at the old Wembley.
He also highlighted how his brother Phil was abused after Euro 2000, his best friend David Beckham was vilified after France 98, and his Man Utd teammate Wayne Rooney was also criticised following his red card against Portugal at the 2006 World Cup.
“Every time I saw a United player in a tournament get abused, I just dug in a little bit,” Neville added. “Manchester United at that time became a little bit anti-England.
“I felt there was an anti-Manchester United situation with England, but I absolutely loved playing for my country. I never retired from England. I always said I would never retire because if my country need me, I go.”
Joshua made his return to the ring this weekend, eight months after he was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria which took the lives of two of his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
The 36-year-old was easily expected to overcome Prenga in their bout at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia. However, while the bout only lasted two rounds, those two rounds were packed with drama.
Prenga came racing out of the blocks and knocked a shell-shocked Joshua down twice in the opening round.
Joshua regained his composure and asserted his dominance in the second round, and the bout was stopped following a brutal shot that sent Prenga crashing to the canvas.
Oleksandr Usyk’s Reaction to Joshua’s Victory
Credit: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Usyk was present in Jeddah to watch Joshua fight. The 39-year-old, who beat Joshua twice earlier this decade, trained alongside his former opponent as he prepared for his fight against Prenga.
Usyk took to Instagram on Saturday afternoon to wish Joshua good luck. He wrote: “Good luck tonight Anthony Joshua. I know how much work you have put into preparing for this fight. Now go out there and do what you came to do. Respect always!”
Ring Magazine have now posted footage showing Usyk’s reaction to Joshua’s victory. The Ukrainian appeared to breathe a huge sign of relief after Joshua’s victory was secured.
Usyk then made his way into the ring and the two shared an emotional embrace, with Joshua saying that ‘it was okay.’
Usyk gave his assessment on Joshua’s performance after his victory. He told talkSPORT: “Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.
“It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win. Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”
Joshua Praises Prenga and Speak About Fury
Credit: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
Joshua was very complimentary of Prenga following the bout. He said, per Sky Sports: “He’s a strong guy and I think Eddie [Hearn] wants to sign him now!
“He is going to do well and has a bright future. Maybe with a bit more experience, he will be up there with the rest of us.
“He is strong and durable and gave me a good test but this is what champions do, we rise. We get knocked down and stand up. That’s life.”
Joshua is now expected to face Tyson Fury next. Speaking about the potential bout, Joshua said: “I am going to rip his heart out. I am the meanest and most vicious champion there has ever been!
“All jokes aside, I respect everything he has done and achieved but we are here now. I hope the fans will be in for a lovely treat.”
Saturday night’s blistering two-round heavyweight shootout between Anthony Joshua and Kristian Prenga was fixed. That’s the view of former Crystal Palace and talkSPORT owner Simon Jordan, who took to social media after the fight to share his theory.
The bout was considered by many to be little more than a warm-up for Joshua ahead of his planned showdown with long-time rival Tyson Fury later this year.
However, within just seconds of the opening bell, ‘AJ’ was fighting for his career after being sent to the canvas with a right uppercut. The Watford man made it back to his feet, but looked to be in real trouble of suffering a first-round defeat.
Anthony Joshua Was Almost Knocked Out By Kristian Prenga
His Albanian opponent seemed to realise it, too, as he marched forward, landing a barrage of blows. Joshua did his best to try and avoid damage, but touched the mat again during the final minute of the round, prompting another count from referee Luis Pabon.
‘AJ’ made it back to his corner, but it hardly looked like the 60-second break would do him much good. The 36-year-old appeared on the verge of being taken out in a loss that would have almost certainly signalled the end of his time in the ring.
Curiously, though, Prenga didn’t seek to force home his advantage in the second round, allowing Joshua to find his way into the fight and ultimately secure a knockout victory with a huge right hand that sent Prenga sprawling to the canvas.
Admittedly, there was a huge gulf in class between the two fighters in terms of their resumes, but Jordan insisted that there was something more sinister behind the dramatic turnaround in the fight.
Conspiracy Theory Emerges on Anthony Joshua vs Kristian Prenga
“Not having that Anthony Joshua fight,” he argued in a post on Twitter. “Dropped twice and sets the tempo [in the second round]. How’s that? Prenga totally different in the 2nd. Something not quite right. All designed to rinse the maximum amount of money.”
Per official numbers from CompuBox, the underdog Prenga only threw 17 punches in the second round before he was stopped, landing with just three. That came after he found the target with 13 of 46 in the first.
While Prenga’s output definitely dropped in the second round, there is no evidence to support Jordan’s theory of the fight being fixed.
Credit: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
However, some fans on social media were in agreement with the controversial radio host.
“That’s got to be the most blatantly fixed fight ever. Prenga drops Joshua twice in round 1, comes out for round 2, doesn’t throw a punch and just lets Joshua punch his head off,” argued one fan.
Another wrote: “Did someone get into Prenga’s ear after the first round to throw that fight? He didn’t throw a single punch in the 2nd round. Fixed.”
A third agreed: “Something very sus about this. Geezer was battering Joshua then 2nd round came and he didn’t wanna know! Fixed to max!”
Others, though, were quick to shoot down Jordan’s statement.
“AJ took an uppercut (by a fighter with 20 KO wins),” began one reply. “[He was a] little rusty and came back. His jab clearly warned off Prenga, and he did some damage before the knockout. Not everything has to be a conspiracy!”
“Bit too deep Simon. Was just a fight,” declared another response. AJ got whacked, and then 2nd round, whacked the other guy out. You can’t script/fake what happened in that fight.”
A final comment pointed out: “The aftermath felt genuine. Very hard to orchestrate a heavyweight boxing match.”
With Joshua now set to move on to a money-spinning bout with Fury, it is highly unlikely that Prenga will ever get the chance to share the ring with ‘AJ’ again, especially given the shock that he almost caused.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua won his final fight before his planned showdown with Tyson Fury later this year with a victory over unheralded Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
Fury competed in a warm-up bout of his own on Friday night, stopping 46-year-old veteran Mariusz Wach. Joshua got the job done quicker, as he ended his fight in the second round, but he had to survive a huge scare.
Joshua was floored within the first 30 seconds after being caught flush with a right uppercut and would find himself on the canvas again before the end of the session.
Joshua bounced back in the second, securing the win with a devastating left hand that separated Prenga from his senses.
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
