James Graham’s Dear England examines football at the highest level, forensically exploring - to quote Steven Dyke's excellent Physio Phil - the arrogance that plagues the game. Of those young men, Oscar Gough's touching portrait of the tongue-tied Harry Kane was an obvious highlight, but was only one of many affectionate performances. Ashley Bryan's Sterling, Amarae Edson's Rashford, Connor Hawker's Maguire and Jack Maddison's Pickford were distinct and recognisable, while the previously mentioned Physio Phil stole every scene he was in. With slow motion mime and surtitles keeping score, this was also gripping theatre, whether or not you knew the outcome. And that’s because this play about football was not really about football at all.

Source: Express February 14, 2026 17:03 UTC