The Big Interview Chris Sutton

“Take it easy against the Scots? You are joking!”

Chris Sutton famously didn’t do ‘B’ games.

The former Celtic star snubbed the chance to turn out for England’s second string against Chile in 1998. It was a move that ended his international career before it had really begun, Glenn Hoddle washing his hands of him from that moment on.

The decision robbed him of the chance to play in the momentous Euro 2000 play-off ties against Scotland a year later. Kevin Keegan was in charge by then but there was to be no way back for a player Chelsea had shelled out £10 million for.

Now Sutton says the prospect of the countries clashing at Wembley on Wednesday week is one that genuinely excites him.

There has been talk of England effectively treating the friendly fixture as a ‘B’ match and using younger or fringe players. It’s a notion Sutton dismisses out of hand.

“Don’t be fooled if England were to lose to Scotland at Wembley it would be a big deal,” he said.

“I wouldn’t quite say there would be a riot. However, with everything that has gone before, it would make a lot of people very unhappy.

“The results just haven’t been good enough so it will be the first-choice players who start.”

Indeed. Draws with Montenegro and Poland have left England’s World Cup qualification far from guaranteed. They trail Group H leaders Montenegro by two points, albeit with a game in hand, and are just one ahead of Ukraine. The friendly outings have done nothing to bolster confidence either.

They went down 4-2 to a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-inspired Sweden last November and were held by the Republic of Ireland at Wembley in May. And, though Roy Hodgson’s side drew 2-2 with Brazil at the Maracana last time out, the visitors were the second-best team on show.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=YIHC1iah2ss

“Expectations are always high for England because fans know there are always a lot of talented players available to the manager,” says Sutton.

“They watch the Premier League and expect the English players who stand out for the big clubs week-in, week-out to be every bit as dominant in the international arena.

“I am talking about the likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Jack Wilshire, Theo Walcott and Joe Hart.

“When that doesn’t happen, they get frustrated.

“This might be a friendly but not in the usual sense.

“With some challenge matches you find yourself thinking: ‘I could take this or leave it’.

“Not with this one.

“England’s players will be going all out for a victory, the fans will be all out for a victory and Roy Hodgson will be all out for a victory.

“That will make for a great atmosphere and I am sure there will be a good number of Scots in the ground.”

As Sutton points out, this might be one case where the Tartan Army will feel entitled to travel not just in hope, but in expectation.

“Scotland are going into the game on a high off the back of a terrific result against Croatia,” he says.

“With the Croats ranked fourth in the world and the tie played in Zagreb, no-one expected anything other than a home win.

“But Scotland went there and won and they deserve great credit for that.

“It will have been particularly pleasing for Gordon Strachan.

“When he was appointed, there was a lot of talk about him bringing the passion back.

“After that Croatia result you have to think the move has paid off already.

“Now you have England up next and the Scottish lads will be up for it.

“You look at it from the other perspective and you say we are going to have to match their intensity.

“If we play with anything less than 100% focus, we could get turned over.

“Momentum is very important in football and England need to build confidence.

“There is a difficult trip to the Ukraine in September, followed by a Wembley double header against Montenegro and Poland in October.”

September sees Sutton himself in action, with the 40-year-old heading back to Celtic Park for Stan Petrov’s charity game on the 8th.

“I’ve been speaking to Stan quite regularly so I have been in touch with his progress,” he says.

“It was obviously a huge shock to everyone when he was first diagnosed with leukaemia.

“He wasn’t just a young man, but a professional athlete at the peak of his sporting career.

“I will definitely be coming up for the match and I will play part of it. I’m not sure Stan will be thrilled by my contribution but I will play anyway!”

Petrov has set up a foundation to help others who find themselves similarly afflicted. It’s a positive response to a life trauma.

Yet while Sutton finds himself at an age where many of his former team-mates are forging high-profile careers, he’s relaxed about his own life of leisure.

Since giving up the manager’s job at Lincoln City three years ago, citing family reasons, he’s been content to do “this and that.”

“I am busy enough. I’m open-minded and if the right opportunity came up then of course I would consider it.”

Might he perhaps consider a career in the media like his old strike partner John Hartson?

“Nah, I don’t think so,” he laughs. “You know me, I am too miserable!”

* Chris Sutton spoke at the launch of PLZSoccer.com, home of a nightly football show and weekly live commentary game in the SPFL.