LUKE LITTLER’S “ego” cost England a shot at World Cup glory, according to Michael Smith.
Luke Humphries and Littler were expected to storm to the title as world No1 and No2 respectively.
Luke Littler’s ego got in the way of England succeeding at the World Cup, according to Michael SmithX @SkySportsDarts
X formerly Twitter / @SkySportsDartsHosts Germany stunned England at the Darts World Cup[/caption]
Michael Smith says Luke Littler didn’t park his ego and that’s why they failed at the World CupRex
But the Lukes were dumped out in their first match against hosts Germany in a major upset.
And now Smith – who has also represented England at the World Cup – has revealed where it all went wrong, appearing to blame Littler’s “ego”.
Smith said: “The way I’m gonna say it might sound bad for the other two players so I’m trying to reword it before I say it.
“I didn’t have an ego going on the stage. I was world No2 at the time and I had just come from world No1.
“Luke Humphries had just taken over and yes, I play him week in and week out, but I was like this is not me against Luke…
“This is me and Luke Humphries versus everyone else, so I let my ego go to one side.”
Smith continued: “I thought he is the No1, he is the main player, and I do everything for him.
“I’ll do everything he needs by leaving his favourite doubles and I’ll take myself out of the comfort zone where I am not used to throwing myself at a certain treble to leave a double on the left-hand side because that is not my game.
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“So, if I miss, I know I have the World No1 sat on his favourite double.”
Smith concluded: “This year I watched a couple of legs and I think Littler was on 125 against Germany.
“He goes for the treble 15 for double tops where nine times out of ten those are the shots he hits.
“In that situation he messed up and left Humphries 93 instead of 60 or even tops.
“That was his ego taking over – they were trying to compete against each other instead of with each other, whereas I wasn’t.
“I think that’s what helped us to win and that is what was their biggest downfall.”
Wales star Gerwyn Price, who lost a tense final leg decider against Northern Ireland, at the time appeared to agree with Smith.
Price said: “I think you need a connection. I think you need to have that camaraderie off the stage.
“When all the teams first turned up on the first day, the only two players who didn’t turn up together, didn’t sit together, didn’t play as a team.
“I’m not saying who they are. But they didn’t win their first game.
“You need to turn up together. You need to be as a team… you practice together, you sit together, it’s a team ethic.
“It didn’t show with England and it showed on the board.
“They are great players individually. But you need to be a team.
“I wanted them to do well but they didn’t. I’m not just saying that.
“But they were rubbish!”
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