Thread by @AndrewHaigh

As a former Sports editor I’m always curious about decisions newspapers make, especially around photo choice for the front page. With the England game, there were 3 obvious choices:
1: Sterling for breaking the deadlock
2: Kane sealing the win
3: Team photo reflecting team effort

For me, the most important moment was Sterling’s goal. It changed the game and sparked unforgettable celebrations. Sterling also has a great back story, both his personal journey, his fight against racial injustice and sporting too with him overcoming doubts over his poor form.

Kane also had his doubters but his goal was less crucial. Picture editors tend to favour the final act of a match though and also Kane generally gives good celebration pictures (arms wide fit landscape holes nicely).

A team shot speaks for itself. Group praise over individual.

So what did the papers go for?

11 national newspaper front pages:

Sterling x1 (The Sun)
Kane x 8
Team x2 (Guardian, Mirror)

Why so many for Kane, so few for Sterling? It might be bias towards landscape pics or it might be because he’s captain. I don’t know.. I’d be curious to hear what picture editors think.

Credit to Twitter’s #TomorrowsPapersToday legend @hendopolis for the front pages

@JayMitchinson asking because I know you are happy to engage in these types of conversations. You went with the Kane pic too, what was the thinking behind that one over the rest?

https://twitter.com/jaymitchinson/status/1409984997650489353

Another thing to add is that news and sports desks need to negotiate so they don’t have the same picture on the front and back pages. Keeping that in mind, I’ll add the back pages too. Of those currently available it’s…

Team x3