Hydration breaks? Don’t get me started… But England's World Cup bid is going to be epic

JEREMY Clarkson is gearing up to cheer on England in the US tonight but branded all American beer “terrible” and insisted: “It’s not ‘soccer’ — and you don’t need a hydration break!”

The TV favourite and Sun columnist, in remission after prostate cancer, is jetting to Boston to watch Thomas Tuchel’s men try to seal qualification to the knockout stages against Ghana.

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He found time for one of his trademark rants — as he took a swipe at the American name for the game, their lager and the breaks in play for drinks stoppages at this World Cup.

But Chelsea fan Clarkson reckons Three Lions boss Tuchel is proving to everyone what a genius he is, and why the Blue made a huge error sacking him.

Appearing on The Sun’s exclusive football show from the US, Proper Football Daily, he said: “It’s going to be just epic because I’ve never seen England in a World Cup tournament before. I wish I’d been there for the 4-2 win over Croatia, but I was a bit busy last week, so I couldn’t make that one. But I am hugely looking forward to it.

“It’s very brave to step out on that pitch. You know, I’ve just watched the Gareth Southgate documentary. You know, watching him miss that penalty, you just think, oh my God, that’s worse than I thought it was.”

He went on: “It’s a very brave thing to do, just to step out in an England shirt. And I just wish them all the very best, I really, really do. We’ve got a good team, a really, really good team.

“I don’t care now which clubs they play for now. Anyone who plays for England’s all right by me!”

Talking about their chances of going all the way, Jezza added: “I’m always optimistic. You can’t sit here and be English in the World Cup and not think we’ve got a real chance this time.

“I was only six when we won it. And I can remember sobbing in 1970, that was Mexico, and hating Alf Ramsey. I hated him even though he’d won it in 66 because we hadn’t won then. And I sort of had hope in my heart every four years since.

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“But I do think we’re in with a shout. I think the Dutch look good. I’m not allowed to say that, am I?”

Clarkson cannot speak highly enough of Tuchel’s management skills and tactics and says sacking him was the Blues’ biggest mistake in years.

He said: “I loved the football England played against Croatia. And I understand his half-time talk was very motivational and very clever as well.

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“I love Tuchel. I really love him. Do I wish he was English? Yes. But he isn’t, so we’ve got the best man to win it for us.

“Tuchel makes lots of changes to shock teams. I seem to remember that from Chelsea. You see how he plays one game and think, ‘OK, that’s how he’s going to play it.’ And then the next time he doesn’t play the same type of way. It’s genius.”

Speaking about his health, Clarkson, 66, has thanked everyone for the messages and gifts he has received since the shock announcement of his diagnosis and then remission.

He said: “No, I’m fine, thank you, and I’m fine because I got tested. I mean, it’s as simple as that. If I hadn’t got tested, I’d be sitting here now not knowing how far it should spread through the body.”

Clarkson, known for decades of hit shows on cars, travel and now farming is not often associated with being a huge football fan — but revealed he hass followed Chelsea for 56 years.

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He said: “Well, I became a Chelsea fan in 1970. The infamous FA Cup final replay between Chelsea and Leeds, known as the most brutal final ever. And the country was divided, it was very odd.

“Everyone in the North was supporting Leeds and everyone in the South was supporting Chelsea. And I grew up in Doncaster and I thought, right, I shall support Chelsea! Because I was obtuse. you know!

“I wouldn’t call myself particularly knowledgeable but then I wasn’t very knowledgeable about cars and I managed to muddle through on that.

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“And I’m certainly not knowledgeable on farming and I’m muddling through on that as well. You can muddle through by being enthusiastic!”

Speaking of the World Cup, he also took aim at Paraguay star Miguel Almiron’s red card under a new rule for covering his mouth while talking.

He said: “If I’d gone to sleep five years ago and then somebody showed me that clip where a ref goes to look at the television on the side of the pitch and then sends someone off for talking like that, you go, what’s happened to football?

“So, and then stopping for a hydration break, don’t get me started on that!”

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And with his connections as part owner of premium British beer brand Hawkstone, Clarkson is not impressed by what he might have to drink at the game tonight.

He said: “All American beer is terrible. But get this, I’m going on British Airways and British Airways is now serving Hawkstone on its flights.

“I was on a BA flight and it said we support British farms and the menu was all British food and then the beer was whatever Italian lager..and I was like, ‘Well you’re not supporting us.’

“So words were exchanged and they now have Hawkstone, which I’m delighted about.”

He added about his stadium refreshments: “I’ll muddle through with whatever urine water they serve over there for the football!”

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