The stars appear to be aligning for Gareth Southgate’s England at Euro 2024.
Last-minute wondergoals, triumphant penalty shoot-outs and dubious spot-kick decisions have helped Southgate’s Three Lions advance to the final of this tournament, despite their football being cautious at best and poor at worst.
But if winning has been a constant theme for England, so too has been vice-captain Kyle Walker’s pre-match ritual, evident in the five games leading up to Wednesday’s semi-final triumph.
And this was evident again as Walker prepared to claim his 89th England cap in a 2-1 win against the Netherlands, a victory that puts his side in the history books for reaching their first final on foreign soil.
The Manchester City full-back, 34, has repeatedly shown that his children with wife Annie Kilner, 30, are his top priority by making an “R” symbol (the first letter of his four children’s names) with his fingers during every match.
If winning has been a constant theme for England, so too has been vice-captain Kyle Walker’s pre-match ritual, evident in the five games leading up to Wednesday’s semi-final triumph.
The full-back has repeatedly shown that his children with wife Annie Kilner are his top priority by making an ‘R’ symbol (the first letter of his four children’s names) with his fingers.
Explaining the reason for his gesture, a source told MailOnline: ‘He always makes sure to give a nod to his family who travel to support him and the team from home for every game.
“The boys follow his every move and are very proud of their father. It motivates him to know that they are there.”
Walker and Kilner are parents to sons Roman, 11, Riaan, seven, Reign, five, and newborn Rezon, whom the couple welcomed in April.
The couple are trying to save their marriage after Walker admitted to fathering a daughter, now ten months old, with influencer Lauryn Goodman, 33, out of wedlock.
Walker is also the father of Goodman’s four-year-old son, Kairo, after she became pregnant in 2020 while he was briefly separated from Kilner.
The source added: ‘Annie has been an amazing mother and family woman, despite everything, and he knows that and wants to make sure everyone knows he sees them and appreciates them.
‘He misses the lads terribly when they are in the England camp, but is incredibly proud to be part of such a strong team that now looks like it could really bring the trophy home.’
The decorated footballer, who is playing in his fifth consecutive tournament with England, is also father to four-year-old Kairo and a ten-month-old daughter with influencer Lauryn Goodman.
“He always makes sure to give a nod to his family, who travel to support him and the team from home for every game,” a source told MailOnline.
Walker headed to the stands to be with his family after Wednesday night’s 2-1 win over the Netherlands in Dortmund.
Kilner gave birth to the couple’s fourth child in April, with Manchester City and England footballer Walker at her side.
The past few months have been a rollercoaster after discovering in December last year that she had fathered a second child with Goodman, and Walker moved out of their Cheshire home in January.
The influencer has been accused of deliberately fuelling a public feud with Walker after he reportedly missed her son Kairo’s fourth birthday to keep the spotlight on her.
England’s quarter-final win over Switzerland on July 6 was overshadowed by Goodman’s latest social media activity as Kilner supported her husband in Dusseldorf.
Southgate’s men advanced to their third semi-final under his leadership after beating a lively Swiss side on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
But Kilner did not appear overly impressed after Walker, having earned his 88th England cap, joined her in the stands at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf.
Sources have since claimed that her mood soured after influencer Lauryn Goodman shared photos of her two sons with Kyle wearing England shirts with the word “Daddy” on them.
A source close to the England squad told MailOnline: “Those close to the England team say they are fed up with the off-pitch distractions created by Lauryn.”
The 34-year-old makes an ‘R’ symbol with his hands – the initial letter of his and Kilner’s children.
The pair had a frosty reunion in the stands after England’s epic penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
Walker’s ex-lover Lauryn Goodman has been sharing constant content on social media around the competition and posted a snap of her two sons wearing England shirts with the phrase “Daddy” on them.
Sources claim the England squad are fed up with Goodman’s constant off-field distractions (pictured: Walker and Kilner after England’s quarter-final win on July 6)
‘They know Annie and Kyle have tried to deal with the situation privately and discreetly for the sake of all the children involved, but she continues to do things like draw attention to the fact that she is going to the Euros.
‘This is something they have had to endure for the last four years.
‘Kyle is desperate to protect Annie and their children, no matter what happens between them as a couple in the future, they both agree that this is a priority.
“And a big part of that is protecting them from the media speculation and the circus surrounding the situation.”