RASHFORD v STERLING
No more excuses for City star – his feet look confused in Volgograd... it’s time to unleash Marcus against Panama
IT seems to happen a lot, someone putting a comforting arm around the broad shoulders of Raheem Sterling.
Literally or otherwise. Whether it be Pep Guardiola performing a telephonic version after Sterling’s struggles at Euro 2016 or his team-mates taking to social media to wrap their protection around him following the nonsense over his gun tattoo.
And, on Monday night, it was the physical arm of Gareth Southgate as he put an end to the Manchester City star’s work after less than 70 minutes of mainly frustrating toil.
It should not be the last time the England manager has to take him into close quarters and offer some explanation.
Debate leading up to the World Cup might have featured on what Sterling had inked on his legs, now it will be on what is at the end of them.
His boots were too often confused in Volgograd. This is not victimisation, this is not picking on an exceptional player who has, somehow, become an easy target.
This is not even making a huge deal about the fact that it is almost 1,000 days and TWENTY-ONE appearances since Sterling scored the second of his two England goals.
What Sterling and his quick feet bring to this England team and to Southgate is obvious. He creates space for others, he draws defenders and beats them, he wins free-kicks in crucial areas, he creates chances, he is part of a system that Southgate loves.
He does things Marcus Rashford cannot do but would England look a more potent force if Southgate could find a way of getting the Manchester United striker into the starting line-up? Yes. He did well after replacing Sterling against Tunisia and, never mind his excellent performance in the friendly against Costa Rica, Rashford has, apparently, been flying in training.
Unleash him against Panama, who on the evidence of their performance against Belgium do not offer a realistic threat, and what is the worst that can happen? It does not work out and Southgate goes back to Plan A with Sterling having a point to prove.
Dropping Sterling might reinforce the scapegoat theory and there is absolutely no doubt he is judged way more harshly than any other England player.
But this is a major tournament, a World Cup. Players have to be judged in the here and now, game by game. And only a lenient judge would have Sterling starting against Panama.