NO HARRY NO HOPE
Three Lions chances hinge on Kane, Foden is key, Mainoo a must, left-back a problem
AS international breaks go, it wasn’t a classic for England. But if the last two matches have given Gareth Southgate anything, he will have more clarity over his plans for Euro 2024 this summer.
With less than three months until the Three Lions kick off their group-stage clash against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen, Mirror Sport’s experts give their verdict on who should be on the plane to Germany and their starting XI...
JOHN CROSS
GARETH SOUTHGATE has learned three key points after the friendlies with Brazil and Belgium.
First, Harry Kane is absolutely crucial. Without him, England’s chances at the Euros drop significantly. Ivan Toney will surely be back-up but Kane remains king.
Kobbie Mainoo (below, right) showed he is ready to go to the Euros and is a genuine option alongside Declan Rice in the heart of midfield, especially if Trent Alexander-arnold is not ready.
Left-back is such an issue. Can England wait on Luke Shaw? Ben Chilwell just does not look right. Kieran Trippier can play there but defence is a
real worry.
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
ANDY DUNN
TO state the obvious, Gareth Southgate has learnt – or, more accurately, been reminded – that if Harry Kane has to miss Euro 2024, England’s chances of winning it would be slim and none.
Two games without the skipper, a defeat and a draw, two scruffy performances, even though there were slivers of encouragement against Belgium.
And it was that match which provided the most significant moments in relation to Southgate’s squad selection for the challenge in Germany.
Ivan Toney not only won and converted a penalty, he won a place at the Euros, while Kobbie Mainoo is now surely a shoo-in to fill that Kalvin Phillips-sized hole in Southgate’s thinking.
(4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Rice, Mainoo, Bellingham; Saka, Kane, Foden
SIMON MULLOCK
PHIL FODEN is a better centralattacking midfielder than Jude Bellingham. There, I’ve said it.
Bellingham’s injury-time equaliser against Belgium may have spared the Three Lions a second Wembley defeat in three days, but it was when Foden (with Bellingham, left) drifted inside in the second half that Gareth Southgate’s team really started to play.
The Manchester City midfielder has to operate behind Harry Kane at the Euros. Bellingham has all the tools to play alongside Declan Rice – with licence to break forward when required. Southgate (left) must also not overlook the creativity of Trent Alexanderarnold, who has the temperament and technique to come inside as an auxiliary midfielder.
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Alexanderarnold, Stones,
Maguire,
Walker;
Bellingham, Rice;
Saka, Foden,
Maddison; Kane
NEIL MCLEMAN
THE positives over the two games? Anthony Gordon, Kobbie Mainoo, Jarrod Bowen and Ivan Toney.
The players who could have played their way out were Lewis Dunk, Ben Chilwell, Conor Gallagher and Ollie Watkins.
Toney gave the attack focus without Kane. With
Bukayo Saka out,
Bowen was full of energy and running and could also cover down
the middle. But the reliance on Jordan Pickford is worrying – why was no other keeper given a game?
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Trippier; Henderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane
MIKE WALTERS
LEFT-BACK is going to be a huge problem for Euro 2024, with doubts about Luke Shaw’s fitness and Ben Chilwell looking short of
confidence. Southgate may need to plug the gap by switching Kieran Trippier to the left flank.
In the event of penalty shoot-outs in Germany this summer, Ivan Toney (30 goals in 32 attempts) must be one of England’s nominated spot-kick marksmen.
Kobbie Mainoo must start in England’s midfield. Don’t dare hide him on the bench.
Fitting Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jarrod Bowen and Cole Palmer into the same squad, let alone the same team, may be as comfortable as squeezing them into the back of a Mini.
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Maguire, Stones, Shaw; Rice, Mainoo; Foden, Bellingham, Maddison; Kane