VAR may end fairy tales, but it is fair
IF the clues are correct and Raheem Sterling has lost his place to Marcus Rashford against Panama on Sunday, it isn’t wrong; just a little harsh.
Sterling hasn’t scored for england since playing estonia at Wembley on october 9, 2015, and that is plainly a worry. It is one of just two goals he has scored for his country in 39 appearances. he missed a sitter against tunisia and Gareth Southgate knows he cannot afford poor finishing against the group’s weakest team. It may be, if england can get ahead of Belgium on goal difference, that a draw in the final game will be enough to progress in first place. Southgate needs forwards who are clinical and Sterling isn’t. It’s his greatest flaw. even his 23 goals for Manchester City last season must be set against the enormous number of chances Pep Guardiola’s team created. It might be argued Sterling’s return was not much better than par. Yet he was part of an england forward line that began with exceptional vigour and ambition against tunisia. his pace and game intelligence were to the fore in a first half that was england’s most impressive at a tournament in more than a decade. So to be left out now — particularly with Dele alli also missing through injury — is a ruthless call by Southgate. and it will be no consolation to Sterling to hear that it will not have been taken lightly. In the months before the World Cup, Southgate talked up Sterling as england’s no 10. It was clear he preferred him in that role to alli, and that he thought it brought the best out of him, too. Just as Fabio Capello believed John terry played better as captain, Southgate felt the ‘10’ on his back inspired Sterling. to abandon that stance so early in the tournament shows how concerned Southgate must be about Sterling’s confidence in front of goal.
With alli out, it could be that Ruben loftusCheek occupies the position behind harry Kane with Rashford and Jesse lingard either side. If it goes well, momentum could carry this starting XI forward, as often happens at World Cups. Southgate’s instruction to attack the tournament demands players who take chances.
Maybe, had Sterling reported for england duty on time, that might have carried a little favour, too.
the average age of england’s starting forward quartet on Sunday could be 22. these are remarkable, extraordinarily bold, changes that Southgate has quietly ushered in; but the timing of the latest leap is still brutal for Sterling.