MANCHESTER: It was 10 years ago when Rico Lewis had his first experience of a World Cup.
Aged 9, he was banking on Brazil to win the trophy on home soil so he could earn a prize in the shape of a packet of sweets.
With Neymar and Thiago Silva out injured, the Selecao could not deliver. They fell 7-1 in the semifinal against Germany, who would go on to beat Argentina and claim international football’s biggest honor for a fourth time.
England won their only World Cup in 1966, but Lewis wants to be a part of their bid to end a 60-year wait when the US, Canada and Mexico stage the tournament in two years’ time.
“Of course it’s everyone’s dream to play in an international competition with your country,” Lewis told Arab News exclusively.
“It would be amazing to play in that kind of environment and see how different it is, and also try to win something.
“Watching the World Cup, it makes you strive to do as best as you can and get picked for these squads to get to play in that.
“I think that’s what everyone wants to do, and to go and win a tournament with your national team.
“My earliest memories of a World Cup were in 2014, I remember being in a sweepstake for it.
“I had Brazil and they got beat by Germany 7-1 in the semifinals. I’d have probably won a bag of Haribo’s or something like that if they had won it.”
The 19-year-old, who made his international debut under Gareth Southgate against North Macedonia last November, added: “It was amazing to be called up for England, a unique feeling.
“It’s something you dream of and not many professional footballers get there. You’ve got to be very lucky and I was very lucky to get to that position.
“But once you are there you just enjoy it. It almost makes it easier because you can enjoy it.”
Lewis is certainly enjoying himself this season. And an ability to play confidently in a multitude of roles at such a tender age is not just down to luck.
Having established himself as a key component in Manchester City’s title-winning machine, whether at right-back or in midfield, he has been given an opportunity to transfer his talents to the international stage.
He can do so with Nations League B games against Greece on Thursday and Finland on Sunday.
England’s interim boss Lee Carsley, who replaced Southgate after the Three Lions lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain, turned to Lewis to help solve the side’s troublesome left-back position, where there has been no regular starter.
The youngster impressed in the 2-0 win over Finland last month and has settled well with a squad featuring current City team-mates Kyle Walker, John Stones, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, and an old one in Chelsea forward Cole Palmer.
“Of course I feel comfortable now,” said Lewis. “When you’ve been with people like that for so long — and this is my third year with the City first-team now — I feel a lot closer with everyone and that makes it easier to play with them and at this level.
“I just want to play football and if that means I play in a different position to get more game time then that’s fine with me.
“I like playing fullback and like playing in midfield, but I don’t really mind where I play.”
That approach has typified Lewis’ amazing rise since his City debut two years ago at the age of 17.
His first season in the first-team ranks saw him lift a historic Treble as the Etihad outfit memorably won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.
That was followed by the UEFA Super Cup and then the Club World Cup, with City beating Fluminense in Saudi Arabia.
Lewis also helped City lift the English title for a fourth successive time last season and admitted: “I want as many trophies as I can get. It’s everything I’ve dreamed of. When you break it down, it’s difficult to put into words what I’ve done.
“So that’s what I don’t really do, I don’t really think about it too much. That will probably come later on in life when I look back in my career.
“Right now I just want to focus on putting out consistent performances and being the best I can be.”
He added: “Of course there’s extra pressure. Once you’ve done it, then comes the expectation to do it again.
“When you are playing in a squad like at City you can stick out like a sore thumb if you don’t perform because of how many good players there are. Yes there’s pressure, but that comes with being at a club like this,” Lewis said.
“I think I enjoy it. I think everyone enjoys a little bit of pressure, being able to prove people wrong, stuff like that, but that comes with being a footballer.”
