Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
The rush is on to find the right men for Russia
ONE year to go. One year before the first underwhelming English performance of a World Cup campaign.
One year before the first shot of air is squeezed out of their pretournament balloon. One year before the boom of qualification becomes, with crushing inevitability, the bust of competition. One year before an England manager loses the plot. Or maybe not. Maybe this time Gareth Southgate might actually get it right. Maybe he will prove us doubters wrong. Forget the fact that, for long periods, this was a shoeing from the talented French, even when they were reduced in personnel. When it’s back to qualifying issues, England will make it to Russia 2018, but completing formalities is only half the job ahead. Only a sliver perhaps. Somehow developing a squad that is mentally, technically and tactically capable of doing themselves justice under the most pressurised of circumstances is the task that lies in Southgate’s path. This type of match, says the manager, is crucial on the learning curve that he hopes will reach its zenith next summer. At the least, Southgate knows he has a leader. Never mind Harry Kane’s incessantly effective finishing – the first here was all about anticipation – his indefatigability sets a tireless example. Southgate does not need to make an announcement. Kane, who has no realistic rival for his position, is the permanent captain. The simple, emphatic second-half penalty conversion was emblematic of him thriving on responsibility. The build-up to his early tap-in, that’s now 28 goals in 24 games this year, was attractive evidence that Southgate does have technically-gifted personnel to work with. Dele Alli was always a gifted threat, winning the penalty for England’s second, and Raheem Sterling was in one of those moods where the right decision was made more often than not. Getting the best out of potential game-breakers such as Alli and Sterling, the initial prompters for Kane’s opening goal, will be key. The ground-eating run and cool pass from Ryan Bertrand again demonstrates the wealth of options Southgate has at full-back, or wingback in this formation. If only they could defend. The tactical formation contributed to England’s vulnerability down the flanks but whenever Kieran Trippier or Bertrand were isolated, there was only one result. French gain. The backthree three system
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