Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
My three words for Three Lions GO FOR IT
FORTUNE favours the brave, and above all else I hope Gareth Southgate is bold in Russia.
I don’t think England are ready to win the World Cup, so there will probably be tears before the semifinals, but I hope the fans won’t cry wondering what might have been.
If the road leads to glory in Moscow on July 15, Harry Kane will have to win the Golden Boot as the tournament’s leading scorer.
And as good as Kane (with Dele Alli, left) is, that’s a big ask for a player who has yet to break his duck for England in major tournaments.
In fact, England’s record in tournament football has been abysmal for more than 20 years. Since 1990, they have won only TWO games in knockout stages at the World Cup – against Denmark in 2002 and Ecuador four years later. That’s appalling for one of the richest football nations on the planet.
So, with no track record of any substance to defend, what has Southgate got to lose? I’ve been impressed by England’s build-up, so in terms of his selection, formation and outlook I have only three words of advice: Go for it.
Apart from that insipid defeat by Iceland, nothing irritated England supporters more at the Euros two years ago than Roy Hodgson asking Kane to take corners (when he should have been in the six-yard box to meet them), and making that glut of unforced changes against Slovakia, which cost them top spot in the group.
When England open their campaign against Tunisia on June 18, I hope Southgate won’t pick two holding midfielders. With respect, what are you holding? Why would you need three centre-backs and two holding midfielders as a screen? It looks as if Southgate is locked into a 3-4-3 formation, and England’s performances have improved markedly this year based around that shape, so I have no problem with the conviction he has invested in it.
But players win you the World Cup, not formations. Bobby Robson switched to a 3-5-2 midway through the tournament in Italy 28 years ago, and it took them all the way to the semi-finals. Just as Paul Gascoigne made himself an irresistible pick at Italia 90, through sheer expression of his personality on the pitch, I hope Southgate will catch the wave with Marcus Rashford this time.
Apart from his goal, Rashford was fantastic against Costa Rica in the final warm-up friendly on Thursday night. On that form, he must start against Tunisia in the opening group match when the music starts.
The way he drove at defenders, committed them to closing him down and opened spaces for team-mates, was the adventure and enterprise which sets the stars apart from the supporting cast.
At one point, there were five Costa Rican defenders around Rashford.
Big stars come out to play at the World Cup, and after a frustrating end to the season for Manchester United, I think Rashford is ready to announce himself.
And if the young striker is going to be used as an impact player from the bench, he must be given half an hour to make his presence felt.
When he came on with four minutes to go against Iceland a couple of years ago, it was quickly apparent he should have been on the pitch a lot longer.
I don’t think this is the starting XI Three Lions boss Southgate will name against Tunisia but, if I was in charge, the teamsheet – in a 4-1-2-3 shape – would read: Butland; Walker, Stones, Cahill, Young; Henderson; Loftus-cheek, Alli; Sterling, Kane, Rashford.
That will give England creativity behind the front line, pace down the flanks and adequate cover for the centre-backs.
I understand why Southgate has pencilled in Kyle Walker as the right-sided centre-half, and he has looked at home there.
But I would rather use Walker’s pace as an asset going forward than as an insurance policy to dig his side out of trouble at the back.
Wales showed in 2016 the value of boldness, so come on, Gareth – be bold, go for it, and see how far it takes you.