The English Football Association confirmed the Raheem Sterling was left out of Sunday’s 3-0 win over Senegal to deal with “a family matter”.
Raheem Sterling : Family matter | Why is not playing
Raheem Shaquille Sterling is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for Premier League club Chelsea and the England national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Raheem Shaquille Sterling | ||
| Date of birth | 8 December 1994 | ||
| Place of birth | Kingston, Jamaica | ||
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.72 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Winger, attacking midfielder | ||
He went on to help Manchester City win back-to-back Premier League titles in the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons.
In the 2018–19 season, he was named to the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and won the PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year.
Sterling made his senior debut for England in November 2012 after previously being capped by England youth teams at under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels.
He was chosen in England’s squads for the FIFA World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2022, and the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020.
Raheem sterling Family matter
Raheem Sterling will return home from England’s World Cup camp in Qatar with doubts over whether he will return in time for Saturday’s quarter-final against France.
The English Football Association confirmed the Chelsea forward was left out of Sunday’s 3-0 win over Senegal to deal with “a family matter”.
According to reports in the British media, Sterling’s home was broken into by armed intruders while his family were in the property on Saturday night.
“At the moment clearly the priority is for him to be with his family. We’re going to support that and leave him to have as much time as he needs,” said England manager Gareth Southgate.
“At the moment it’s a situation he needs time with his family to deal with and I don’t want to put him under any pressure with that.
“Sometimes football isn’t the most important thing and family should come first.”
Sterling has been a key player for England during Southgate’s six years in charge.
Also the 27-year-old has 20 goals in 81 caps for his country, including one at the 2022 World Cup in a 6-2 victory over Iran.
However, Sterling may have already been squeezed out of Southgate’s starting line-up for the last eight even if he does return to Qatar by the fine form of Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden.
Saka and Rashford have each scored three times in the tournament, while Foden provided two assists in the routine win over Senegal.
But “It didn’t impact the team selection,” Southgate said. Also “I spent a lot of time with Raheem this morning.
Why is not playing
England attacker Raheem Sterling is set to miss his side’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against on Sunday.
The Chelsea player will be out of contention for selection for the game because he is dealing with a family matter.
But Sterling had started England’s first two games in the group and had scored against Iran in its 6-2 win. But, he was replaced with Phil Foden for the Wales game, who scored and has been named in the game against Senegal today.
The winger, who switched over from Manchester City to Chelsea earlier this year, has scored 20 goals in 81 appearances for his national side.
The African champions will definitely be without their midfield general Idrissa Gueye, who is suspended for the match at Al Bayt having picked up a second yellow card against Ecuador in their final group match.
“He (Cisse) has been sick for a couple of days now and he let us take charge of training yesterday obviously with his instructions,” assistant coach Regis Bogaert told reporters on Saturday.
“Hopefully tomorrow he will be able to come and be on the bench with the players but we are sure at 10 p.m. he will be there with the team.”
Also England has faced African opposition 20 times, including seven at a World Cup, and is yet to lose.
While African nations have lost eight of their nine World Cup knockout round games against European sides, Cisse was there for the one success in 2002 when Senegal beat Sweden to reach the quarter-finals.