Southgate knows his fab four need help
IT pays to listen to Gareth Southgate. England’s head coach does not make statements to secure a headline, so his words at Wembley on Saturday struck a chord.
‘I think they are as exciting as anything,’ said Southgate after Bulgaria had been put to the sword. I remember going to Spain and thinking “that’s a really tough game” but, actually, our front three compared to their front three. I thought we were that strong.’
With every game, they look more formidable. Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling with Marcus Rashford or Jadon Sancho is a potent trident and their worth to this team cannot be understated. England have scored 30 goals in their last 12 games. Those four men are responsible for 21.
But here’s a question — what happens when they have an off-night?
You may think it churlish to ask that after England moved to within six points of securing their place at Euro 2020 and the vast majority inside St Mary’s marvelled at the speed and interchanging of the attack, particularly the wonderful Sancho.
Southgate would have shared a sell- out crowd’s joy in seeing England playing with zest, verve and speed but he doesn’t take his eye off the bigger picture. You can’t when constantly pursuing perfection.
So he will look at his midfield and realise that if his forwards splutter — or find avenues blocked by defenders with the class of Virgil van Dijk, Matthias de Ligt or Sergio Ramos — there has to be another way to win.
The numbers Sterling, Kane, Rashford and Sancho have produced over the last 12 months are magnificent and fuel Southgate’s belief they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as France’s World Cup winners, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe.
There is, however, another set of numbers that makes you think twice. It is the goal return from midfield and you can be certain Southgate will want it rectified (along with the ridiculous defensive mistakes that pockmarked this contest) before the proper business begins next June.
Consider this. England have competed at two major tournaments since Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard ended their international careers in June 2014. The engine room has contributed three goals to a tally of 16 in 11 elite matches.
Delve a little deeper and you will find more figures to raise the eyebrows. In the post-World Cup haul, only Jesse Lingard (two) and Ross Barkley (two) have contributed from midfield.
Southgate chose eight midfielders for this get-together (the number was reduced when Lingard was sent back to his club with illness) and that left Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (six goals in 33 caps) and Barkley as the only scorers.
This, without doubt, is an issue. There may have been another mismatch at Hampden Park 24 hours earlier when Belgium skewered Scotland 4-0, but watching the majesty of Kevin de Bruyne, with three assists and a goal of his own, left you realising what England need to make the next leap forward.
True, there is nobody like De Bruyne in European football and he — along with Eden Hazard — is the reason Belgium are the team to beat next summer. England can challenge but only if the midfield contributes.
England have always had someone capable of arriving from deep to ease the scoring burden. Sir Bobby Charlton was the standard-setter but he was not a one-off. The great Johnny Haynes made his name as source of goals from midfield. David Platt (27) and Bryan Robson (26) did likewise.
Gerrard and Lampard delivered in their pomp but their retirement has seen the well run dry. The current crop have many qualities, with their boundless energy and tenacity, but you would love to see them try their luck with efforts on goal a bit more.
It was not for the want of encouragement last night. Jordan Henderson — who spoke ahead of Kosovo’s visit about frustration over his famine — was implored to shoot whenever he had the chance. Cap number 53, though, ended just as the previous 52 had done.
Barkley played with intelligence and his trickery caused Kosovo problems but, occasionally, you would like to see him take the risks he did when a rising force with Everton.
He has a shot like a cannon and his international tally should be much higher than four.
If these players are not going to change, Southgate will be thinking about where he can find someone who can provide something special. He will have noted, no doubt, that Manchester City’s Phil Foden scored twice for the Under 21s against Kosovo on Monday.
Foden has magic and knows where the goal is.
In a squad that is enlivened by youth, do not be surprised if he becomes the man to answer the pertinent question.