ENGLAND EVOLVING NICELY
There are weaknesses in Southgate’s squad who have qualified for Euro 2020 but on the whole...
England manager gareth Southgate’s eyes may only be on Kosovo and the final game of Euro 2020 qualifying tomorrow, but for the rest of us it is hard not to think about next summer.
at the end of the World Cup in Russia 18 months ago, Southgate’s expressed intention was to build on what he and his players had achieved in reaching the last four.
He may have done it with slightly different players than perhaps he anticipated, but he has done it all the same.
Few would have thought that only four of the team who started against Croatia that night in Moscow would have been playing on the night England finalised qualification for their next major tournament.
It would have been five had Raheem Sterling not clashed with Joe gomez at St george’s Park at the start of the week, but it’s a valid observation nevertheless.
Some players have gone backwards — it feels a long way back to the squad, never mind the team, for dele alli and Eric dier. But Southgate’s team have evolved organically on the whole over the last year or so, and the 14 players who contributed to the 7-0 dismantling of feeble Montenegro on Thursday will start their own jostle for a place when England land in Pristina later today.
‘We’ve got a fairly settled squad but there are obviously players who’ve been with us in the last 18 months who are still in our thinking,’ said Southgate.
‘We are always learning about the players more in the really big matches and the really high-pressure games. The team on Thursday was extremely young and the squad is young and we’ve got to get the balance right with that.
‘But these, in most cases, are our best players, we think. although next summer is going to come before a lot of them peak, we can still be hugely competitive and our challenge is to be able to compete, as we found a way to compete in Russia, with a squad that’s very exciting.’
With a minimum of two of England’s three group games scheduled for Wembley next summer, it will feel very much like a home tournament. Southgate played in the last such event here, 23 years ago in Euro 96.
‘Yes, it’s going to be an incredible experience for the players and for our fans,’ he added. ‘We want to make Wembley somewhere that teams fear coming to and that’s part of the message I gave to the players before Thursday’s game.
‘So, yes, it will be a very special event to be a part of. and the players deserve it. They’ve played extremely well against opponents we should beat, in a group we should win, for sure, but the quality of play and the number of goals they’ve scored have been impressive.
‘You know, I used to look at germany in qualification and they were racking up sixes and sevens and we used to be struggling to break down teams who played with a low block.
‘We’ve now managed to play in a way that’s been able to solve that problem. now we’ve got to solve the different sorts of problems that come with the higher-ranked opponents — that’s the challenge of the next few months.’
a sentiment perfectly and eloquently expressed is right on both counts. Southgate’s team have been impressive in qualifying but they will also have to improve and the areas of weakness are clear. goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made one superb flying save against Montenegro and was impressive all night. But he lacks consistency and authority in his penalty area. He does not always spread confidence.
Meanwhile, Southgate simply must find a regular defensive partner for Harry Maguire. With Michael Keane trending in the wrong direction and gomez’s uncertain season not being helped by the negative reception he received when coming on as a substitute on Thursday, it would appear that the door is open for John Stones, who must improve.
In central midfield there remain doubts about declan Rice, who has fallen out of favour, while Southgate likes Harry Winks — but he is not a guaranteed starter for Tottenham.
ahead of those players, England do have some developing riches and it will be up to the likes of Harry Kane, Sterling and Marcus Rashford to discover a way to unnerve and unsettle the really big teams next summer.
Southgate is not playing down the significance of playing at Wembley, describing it on Thursday night as ‘home advantage’.
There is a chance that it may prove too much for some and to prepare a young group for such a unique challenge will be one of the tasks facing Southgate.
last night he appeared to dangle a carrot in front of young Phil Foden, saying: ‘We are still looking at him.’ But for all the young Manchester City player’s gifts, he will do well to make a run at Southgate’s squad now.
This is beginning to look a heck of a team to get in to.