Southgate’s search for a spark gets desperate
AT one point during an international camp that lasted just over two weeks but felt like 10, Gareth Southgate said he reckoned the major European countries were all pretty much on a par with each other.
With the World Cup five months away, he suggested there was no outstanding candidate from this continent.
In other words, Southgate believes his England have got a similar chance of success at Qatar 2022 as, say, France, or Germany, or Spain.
And, as it happens, the bookmakers pretty much agree.
But on the evidence of this four-game Nations League stint, Gareth and the bookies have got it wrong.
Southgate is making his assessment on the basis of achievements at the two previous major tournaments and the bookies are just taking us all for mugs.
Nothing definitive can be taken from matches that must have been something of a chore for the seniors who are guaranteed a place in Southgate’s final squad for Qatar 2022.
But the overall impression is that this is a squad that is not evolving, a squad that has become TOO functional.
The struggle to create opportunities has become stark, the shortage of creative spark alarming.
Jarrod Bowen and Conor Gallagher were two players with a huge incentive against the Hungarians.
If a World Cup squad was selected right now, they would, almost certainly, not be in it.
Their high motivation levels were evident in their work-rate but, to be brutally honest, they did not bring enough to the table in terms of manufacturing chances.
They are two smashing professionals and if they have a decent run of club form when the Premier League restarts, then Gallagher and Bowen might well make the plane.
And it felt a little harsh that Bowen was hooked at half-time and Gallagher followed him soon after.
Certainly, no one could fault their effort, nor the effort put in by all the players used by Southgate (left) over the four matches.
Considering this was the most tortuous of international breaks – and most of the players will now have only three weeks off before club duties resume – the commitment was considerable.
But there was a predictability about England’s play over these past four matches that does not bode well for Qatar.
A fit and firing Phil Foden will make a big difference if Southgate puts complete faith in the Manchester City player – who only had a 25-minute cameo here – while Jack Grealish, who did not start this match, can be a safe-cracker.
And despite the proliferation of good English right-backs, Trent Alexander-Arnold surely has to have a key role in the squad, even though Southgate seems to have more fondness for Kyle Walker, Reece James and Kieran Trippier.
The dearth of goals from open play is an obvious indication that Southgate needs to encourage more creativity, even if that is at the expense of defensive solidity.
With only two England matches remaining before World Cup 2022 kicks off, this squad is looking onedimensional.
And don’t let Southgate or the bookies tell you otherwise.