An experienced international footballer will represent England at his fifth World Cup this month.
Harry Baker, from Banbury, Oxfordshire, is part of the country’s 14-player squad at the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football’s (IFCPF) tournament in Spain.
The Bicester Colts player and teammates got to the European Championships’ final last year for the first time but lost to the world's best team, Ukraine, 3-0.
Harry, who said every international tournament is a “pinch me moment”, could face Brazil, Japan and Canada in three group matches.
“It would be lovely to win [the tournament] but we’ve got to be realistic. A medal would be amazing,” he added.
“It’s a tough group. Brazil are the third best team in the world so that is the big match. Japan and Canada, we’ve got a good record against – but it’s important not to be complacent against those teams.
“If we want to win medals and compete with the best we’ve got to beat the best. We are in a really good place,” Harry, who has represented England since he was a teenager, said.
“For me, it’s amazing. It’s my fifth World Cup so I’m very, very fortunate. Whenever I get selected for a major tournament for my country is a pinch me moment. It makes you appreciate the hard work and stuff you have to sacrifice to get there throughout the year.”
According to the NHS, cerebral palsy is the name for a group of lifelong conditions that affect movement and co-ordination caused by a brain condition before, during or soon after birth.
Harry previously told the FA that he is a left-sided hemiplegic but that his leg is more affected than his hand and he walks with a limp.
All of the IFCPF’s World Cup matches will be streamed on YouTube, with regular updates on social media.
“The exposure, the awareness is growing. There is more and more out there so hopefully we will be role models for future players and more and more exposure for the sport would be amazing.
“I didn’t really know anything about disability football until I got into it. It’s brilliant to see all these opportunities for people with disabilities – not just people with cerebral palsy as well,” Harry added.
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
