Football news - Sterling continues to rise after Euro crisis – Raheem's recovery is all in the mind

Sterling was lauded for his performance in England’s Euro 2020 qualifier against the Czech Republic on Friday, which saw the side win 5-0, in no small part thanks to his efforts.

But of course, it’s a far cry from even very recent experiences of Sterling when donning the England shirt – a fact that many commentators were quick to point out in the post-match analysis. What had changed for Sterling since disastrous international campaigns in Brazil and France in 2014 and 2018?

Sterling has cut something of a controversial figure in the game, largely thanks to intense tabloid scrutiny, with what could only be described as racist undertones.

He’s suffered abuse on and off the pitch by fans and media alike, reaching something of a turning point ahead of last year’s World Cup when he was accused by press of “glorifying” violence after the unveiling of a new tattoo. Add that to accusations of spending too much money on a flight, not spending enough money on a flight, and having the audacity of buying a house for his mother, among many other perceived insults, by the English press.

As is often the case, such reports coincided with big international fixtures, but last year for the first time Sterling spoke out against them and again recently, after suffering further racist abuse by Chelsea fans while playing for Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

In an Instagram post Sterling commented that such behaviour didn’t surprise him, noting that press commentary helped “fuel racism and aggressive behaviour”. It seemed at the time to be something of a new dawn, with many in the sports industry vowing to do things differently, and a surge of public support he had seldom seen in the past.

Sterling has had a largely successful club career, and has certainly thrived under the stewardship of City manager Pep Guardiola. He also seems to have progressed well in parallel with the more cohesive approach to the national side ushered in by the appointment of manager Gareth Southgate, a former player who, unlike many of his predecessors, knows only too well the pressures faced by modern footballers.

Speaking after Friday’s win, Southgate said: "I'm delighted for him to get the reaction that he did from the crowd…we can't hide from the fact that he's had difficult moments with England,” presumably referring to incidents including being booed by his own fans during Euro 2016.

But what could be the psychological impact of that treatment?

According to Dr Claire-Marie Roberts, a sports psychology consultant working in professional sport, those impacts could be significant.

“From a psychological perspective these individuals are not machines, all the stuff that happens off the pitch is reflected on the pitch,” she says referring to “common stressers” ranging from negative press attention to a backlash by fans.

She adds: “People forget that he’s a young man, still developing coping mechanisms.

“A reduction in anxiety caused by those common stressers leads to the channelling of cognitive resources in the right way, which frees him up to concentrate on what he’s supposed to be doing.” i.e. playing football.

Or as Southgate put it, after the match: “His finishes…tonight were finishes that he was just taking on without thinking too much.”

The soaring in Sterling’s confidence on the pitch is clear for all to see, especially in terms of his England performances, and a world away from those of Euro 2016 when he looked nervous and edgy every time he touched the ball. And it’s something that should give both commentators and fans food for thought.

As Roberts says: “There’s nowhere to hide for modern footballers and we’re very mistaken if we think that doesn’t affect performance.”