England determined to make amends
Talented, well-balanced squad has chance to shed reputation for under-performing
England against Tunisia is the big Group G game Monday at Volgograd Arena, in what’s proving to be an entertaining FIFA World Cup in Russia.
That game is preceded by Panama against Belgium at Fisht Stadium in the other Group G match. Belgium and England are clear favourites, even though both have a history of under-performing.
At Brazil 2014, England finished dead last in its group, but this is a different team, full of youth, promise and talent. It’s also a well-balanced squad, with a mix of experienced and younger players and not a lot to pick between them.
Manager Gareth Southgate has plenty of options and plenty of decisions to make. In fact, there’s really only a handful of England players who seem a safe bet to start — Jordan Pickford in goal, John Stones at the heart of a threeman central defence, and captain Harry Kane up front.
You can maybe add Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling to that list.
Now, consider that all of those players are 24 or younger. Meet the new-look England!
Southgate will want to start at least one veteran on defence. That likely will be Gary Cahill, although Ashley Young at left wingback is another option. Kyle Walker’s pace also makes him a likely starter at the back.
Kane is the man England hopes will score goals, but the striker was a huge disappointment at Euro 2016. Kane has plenty of Tottenham teammates on this England roster, which might help him reproduce his Premier League form at this tournament.
That could provide a little extra incentive for Southgate to play Alli in midfield, Kieran Trippier on the right, and Eric Dier in the holding role.
England has a lot of pace in attack, with Sterling and Marcus Rashford, not to mention Jamie Vardy. Other attacking options include winger Jesse Lingard and young Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Both are good at keeping possession and distributing the ball.
Tunisia, meanwhile, is a capable but unspectacular team, well organized and comfortable on the ball. Up front, former Sunderland winger Wahbi Khazri could cause problems for England. Unfortunately, Tunisia is without star midfielder Youssef Msakni, known as the Tunisian Messi. He suffered knee ligament damage in April.
After Tunisia qualified for the World Cup, staff called a number of foreign players with a Tunisian parent and found four, all French-born, willing to join the squad. They are goalkeeper Mouez Hassen, Montpellier midfielder Ellyes Skhiri, Marseille midfielder Saif-Eddine Khaoui and Leicester defender Yohan Benalouane.
Called up for the first time in March, it’s difficult to know how the four will fit into the team. This is the kind of thing that can disrupt chemistry and backfire on you. We’ll see.