ONE YEAR TO SHAKE UP THE WORLD
JUST 364 DAYS TO THE WORLD CUP IN RUSSIA AND ENGLAND LOOK WAY OFF THE PACE. THEY HAVE…
THE countdown to World Cup 2018 is under way. Just 364 days to go until England expect to be in Russia and they will hope it is more successful than last year’s sorry Euro 2016 campaign where they suffered an infamous last-16 defeat by Iceland.
So what are the key issues for manager Gareth Southgate to address? Sportsmail takes a look...
FIND SOME SELF-BELIEF
Rebuilding confidence after Euro 2016 is easier said than done. The footballing lesson dished out by France on Tuesday will have done nothing to improve England’s inferiority complex.
The FA have taken team morale seriously over the past 10 years. They’ve worked closely with worldrenowned sports psychologist Dr Steve Peters and are closely aligned with elite performance company Lane4 in an effort to help England handle pressure.
Winning breeds winning and nothing boosts confidence like a victory. With three wins in eight under Southgate, it is hardly becoming a habit, but his two defeats came in friendlies against Germany and France and they recorded a credible draw against Spain in November.
‘If we’d played lesser teams and won, maybe we’d all be getting excited and thinking we’re better than we are,’ said Southgate. ‘The reality is to find out exactly where you are against the very best.’
THE STONES DILEMMA
There’s a problem brewing with Manchester City defender John Stones. There shouldn’t be a debate about his place in Southgate’s plans — with his talent, he should be an automatic choice. Instead he was dropped for last weekend’s qualifier against Scotland and his display against France did little to improve his confidence. After losing his place in Pep Guardiola’s first team last season, Stones, 23, is at a crucial juncture. Southgate cannot afford Stones to be sat on City’s bench. There comes an age when youth stops being an excuse. The excuses won’t wash in Russia.
BE FIRM WITH CLUBS
Southgate cannot lend a sympathetic ear to club managers next season. He should be free to manage his team how he sees fit. No agreements to use players for just 45 minutes, no interfering with players’ workload during international duty. Southgate’s time with players is limited enough without bowing to the demands of others.
CHOOSE A FORMATION... AND STICK TO IT!
Three at the back or a four-man defence? Southgate used both in England’s previous four games, a sequence that yielded one win, a 2-0 victory over Lithuania in March. England looked vulnerable using the 3-4-3 on Tuesday. France scored three and it could have been a lot more. Both formations have their merits. England’s defenders, though, appear far more comfortable in a back four. No matter which system Southgate prefers, he must choose one. Southgate was desperate to stress the importance of adaptability during the previous international break. But constant tinkering leading up to the World Cup will only lead to uncertainty.
BUTLAND OR HART?
Southgate insists Joe Hart is his No 1 despite high-profile errors in the past year, his latest mistakes coming in the 2-2 draw against Scotland. But those within the England camp believe Butland has a realistic chance of displacing Hart in time for Russia. Much will depend on where Hart is playing next season. His future is unclear as he looks to secure a permanent move away from Manchester City.
WILL THE STARS PLAY?
Southgate has no control over the amount of first-team football his key men play next season. Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge, Chris Smalling and Stones could all be out of the first-team picture with their clubs. On the other hand, players can suffer burnout if they play too much before the World Cup, but it’s a balancing act England can’t control.
SORT OUT THE CAPTAINCY
Southgate has picked five captains in eight games — Hart, Wayne Rooney, Jordan Henderson, Gary Cahill and Harry Kane. Kane has worn the armband for two successive games — scoring three goals — and looks certain to be handed the long-term job. Henderson has a chance and Rooney’s uncertain future muddies the water, but Kane is England captain in all but name. Make it official.