It’s England v England in one final audition @Matt_Lawton_DM
SOUTHGATE IS PLANNING AN EXTRA SHOWDOWN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
THERE are two matches on England’s fixture list between now and that opening World Cup encounter with Tunisia, but Gareth Southgate revealed yesterday that he actually has a third contest pencilled in.
It will be played behind closed doors between two sides picked from his squad with the possible addition of some fringe players. But, more crucially, it will be the final audition before England’s manager selects his starting line-up from the 23 names he picked this week.
Southgate often draws on his experience as an international player and this idea, he explained, was borrowed from Glenn Hoddle in the build-up to France ’98.
‘We played a behind-closeddoors game in France with Glenn against local opposition, which I thought worked quite well, but a couple of them went flying into tackles and you’re thinking, “bloody hell” and just jumping out of the way of things,’ he said.
‘So we didn’t want a third game going into this World Cup. When there’s been a third competitive game, there comes a point whenhen the players are just trying ying to avoid injury.
‘There’s a balance e of how much you think you need physically and mentally. Do they want another game? Actually, at that point, I’m not t convinced they do. .
‘And if it’s public, lic, you’ve got to hit a level of performance, you’ve got to entertain the supporters, and maybe all the players aren’t ready to go again. So we thought two games on the timeline was good and then a game internally where we’re still working on things.’
Southgate will select two sides from his 23-man party with one or two extras. ‘ Nathaniel Chalobah has missed all the season so it’s good for him to train,’ said Southgate. ‘We are also going to bring in Angus Gunn next week to work with the team. James Tarkowski and Jake LivermorLivermore will be with us.’ TheThen, of course, there is AdamA Lallana, the plplayer who perhaps is the most unfortunate tunfortunate not to have mmade the cut. ‘He’s obviously wwith Liverpool aand joins us for ththe second week of ththe camp,’ said SoutSouthgate. ListeningListen to Southgate at Wembley yesterday, it was clear he would be only too happy to take Lallana to Russia if he can play some part in next week’s Champions League final and injury to one of his 23 forces a change. ‘I’ve had continual dialogue with Adam this season, close and personal conversations,’ said Southgate. ‘Under normal circumstances, given the amount of football he’s played, he wouldn’t be anywhere near the squad. But he’s a player and a person we have a hell of a lot of time for.
‘Maybe giving him another 10 days, who knows what happens? He maybe has a big impact in the Champions League final and we have an issue and he can be part of what we want to do.’
Lallana might yet secure a place on the plane but a place in the first XI might prove more difficult to acquire.
Southgate has a clear vision of how he wants to play but will be using the friendlies against Nigeria and Costa Rica to answer any questions he might still have — not least concerning central midfield.
If Jesse Lingard is now ahead of Dele Alli as the third man in a forward line already comprising Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, Alli would appear to be in competition with Jordan Henderson, Eric Dier and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for one of two midfield spots. Judging by Southgate’s remarks yesterday, LoftusCheek is pushing hard to start against Tunisia, in all likelihood alongside Henderson.
‘There’s not a player in the squad I would have any concerns about starting in the first match,’ said Southgate.
‘ But what gives me optimism? I see such exciting players coming through. Some of them, I don’t think they know how good they might be. I’m looking at Ruben a couple of weeks ago at Palace. He’s having a huge impact on the game and there’s more to come.
‘He’s six feet four, he’s technically outstanding, he can beat players, he can dribble past players, he can retain the ball, he can slide passes. I’m thinking, go on, go again. He just needs to keep progressing and he needs time to do that. That applies to so many of them. That’s the beauty of the age they’re at.’