“I don’t want to build a reputation for just being able to take long throws,” Joe Gomez said after his 35-metre javelin in the 77th minute at Wembley cracked Croatia’s defence in a way England’s first-half interrogation of Dejan Lovren and Domagoj Vidra had failed to.
Like a reluctant superhero cursed with a power he’d rather not be known by, Gomez downplayed the set-piece speciality which sparked England’s comeback - his throw leading to the ball pinballing around the box before falling gratuitously to Jesse Lingard to toe-poke home.
“It’s not something that we’re going to rely on or feel like that’s all we are going to do when the ball goes out of play, because we’re a footballing side,” he said. “And likewise, I don’t want to just be seen as that, but we’re buzzing and it’s nice to be involved.
“It’s not like it’s on my mind like I want to use it all the time. But if called upon, if it’s the right moment, then we can try and use it. It doesn’t always work but luckily today for us it helped.
“It was a great feeling to come back from one down. Credit to the boys, we kept fighting and I think it’s that spirit that they showed in the summer.”
Gomez insisted the slingshot hadn't been pre-rehearsed or practiced at Liverpool or England. “I think either throw it or you can’t,” he said, before admitting the caveat of it obviously involving some technical aspects. An acknowledgement that Liverpool’s specialist throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark, who was hired by Jurgen Klopp at the start of this season, will have graciously accepted after his appointment was widely scoffed at.
The Hail Mary inadvertently distracted from Gomez's immense coming of age performance at Wembley, which was worthy of being hailed man-of-the-match if only it weren’t for Harry Kane's headline-grabbing heroics.
The Liverpool centre-back touched the ball more times than Luka Modric, made 21 more passes than the world’s best midfielder, and 15 more than the tally of his opposite numbers Lovren and Vida combined. Evidence to Gomez, despite his naïve age, already nearing the brink of being regarded as one of the world’s premier centre-backs.
And for that, he paid homage to his mentors both at club and country and in particular Virgil van Dijk, with whom he shares the second best defensive record in Europe – second only to A.F.C. Fylde in England’s fourth division.
“Virgil’s been massive. He's a top player. I think he's proven that last season and this season.” he said. “I mean I’m in a great environment to learn. Stonesy [John Stones] here likewise, Harry Maguire, so many players, and Virgil has been massive for me.
“It’s a great group to come into [at England]. The coaching staff, the boys, a great back four as well. Obviously, Stonesy is a top player and we get along and hr helps me as well. Walks [Kyle Walker] likewise on the other side, so it’s a credit to them really, they help me through and I just enjoy being part of something like that for my country.
“I’m still a young player, I’m still learning so all I can try to do is soak up what’s around me and I’ve got great individuals, great people to learn from and inspire to be like as well as how I want to play so I’m grateful to be in the position I’m in and learn from the people I am.”
