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John Stones enjoying ‘good vibes’ after pulling prank on Thomas Tuchel
England defender John Stones was proud of his injury prank that caught out boss Thomas Tuchel during the celebrations of Sunday’s historic win over Mexico.
Stones teamed up with midfielder Declan Rice to dupe Tuchel into thinking he had injured his shoulder in the dressing room.
The German, who had just seen Jordan Henderson go to hospital with a wrist injury suffered after the match, shot a worried glance only for the centre-half to break out into a dance.
Tuchel went up to hug and laugh with Stones in a clip that has been viewed almost 40 million times on X.
Jokingly asked how his shoulder was feeling, Stones said in the latest episode of Lion’s Den: “It’s feeling better now, it’s feeling better – it has its ups and downs.
“I tried to keep a straight face as I was doing it because I saw he (Thomas) was concerned and thinking, ‘has he actually hurt himself?’.
“Especially after what Hendo (Henderson) had just done outside, he didn’t know what was going to come but it was good vibes in there.
“I didn’t think it would get that much traction to be fair.”
Stones was encouraged by team-mate Elliot Anderson to use the dance as a celebration if he scores in the remainder of the tournament, but he promised a new move.
“I’ve got another one coming,” he said.
Stones came on and played a vital part in the rearguard action in the Estadio Azteca, helping England to see the game out with 10 men.
The 32-year-old, a free agent following his exit from Manchester City, is in the autumn of his international career which he looks back on with pride.
“I thought I wasn’t going to play for England again quite a few years ago,” he said.
“Circumstances changed and since then, and even before then, I never take it for granted.
“I have been so lucky, I have had some of the best moments of my career in an England shirt and some of the best times because you are away with everyone for six weeks at a time and you create some incredible memories.”
He continued: “I am extremely proud of what I have done in an England shirt and there is still more to come.
“In our minds we are still little kids that are trying to achieve our dreams and don’t realise where we are.
“We have the love of everyone back home and we’re just doing what we usually do.”
