England look for creative options
Three Lions searching for a midfield maestro they have lacked since the days of Gascoigne
RUJEVICA: Just three months on from the bitter disappointment of losing a first World Cup semi-final for 28 years, England visit Croatia on Friday in the Nations League seeking not only revenge, but also a long-term solution to a familiar shortcoming.
For all the progress made by the Three Lions in a glorious Russian summer, a familiar lack of midfield authority ultimately undid England as Croatia’s Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic took control of their semi-final to come from a goal down in Moscow.
It was a similar story when Spain came to Wembley last month to puncture England’s feel-good factor by dominating the ball in a 2-1 Nations League win. A run to the last four with the third youngest squad at the World Cup raised expectations of what is to come from a richly talented generation under Gareth Southgate’s tutelage.
However, Southgate has gone even younger in his search for the midfield maestro he believes England have lacked since the days of Paul Gascoigne. Jadon Sancho, 18, and Mason Mount, 19, who made moves to get more first team football, and James Maddison, who jumped to the Premier League, are all rewarded with a first call-up.
Sancho has lit up the Bundesliga since making the brave decision to turn down Pep Guardiola’s pleas to keep him at Manchester City and join Borussia Dortmund last year.
Compared to Neymar by his former England under-16 coach Dan Micciche, Sancho has more assists than any player in Europe’s top five leagues with nine this season, including one in the Champions League.
“I believe in myself, so moving to Germany didn’t faze me,” said Sancho as he faced the media glare for the first time in an England shirt. “I’m a bit tricky, direct, confident obviously. I believe in myself in one versus one situations.”
Maddison and Mount aren’t yet playing at that level, but they too have shunned the glamour of the top six sides in the Premier League to ensure more minutes on the field.
TV TIMINGS
Belgium v Switzerland, live on Sony Ten 1 & Ten 1HD, 12:15am (Sat) Croatia v England, live on Sony Ten 2 & Ten 2HD, 12:15am (Sat)
Wanted by Liverpool as a teenager, Maddison instead moved to Norwich before joining Leicester this summer to join two members of the World Cup squad, Harry Maguire and Jamie Vardy.
Maddison has scored three goals and provided two assists in eight league appearances.
Mount is still a Chelsea player, but after scoring 13 goals on loan at Vitesse Arnhem last season, is enjoying another fruitful loan spell with Derby under Frank Lampard.
YOUNG ONES TO WATCH OUT FOR
JADON SANCHO
Age: 18
Club: Borussia
Dortmund
The attacking midfielder left Man City last season for want of playing time. While last season he was in and out of the squad due to injuries, he has started this season in earnest, which earned him the Three Lions’ call-up.
REVENGE ON THEIR MIND
England will have revenge on their mind when they visit Croatia in the Nations League on Friday night. “We know what happened in the summer,” Harry Kane said. “It will be nice to try and get our own back.”
While Croatia lost 6-0 to Spain in their first game in Group A4, it will not be easy for England to flush out of the system their World Cup semi-final defeat to Zlatko Dalic’s side.
GHOST GAME
England will line up at a virtually empty Stadion Rujevica because of Uefa sanctions against Croatia after a swastika was marked on their pitch before a game in 2015. The Three Lions’ 988th senior international since 1872 will be their first to be held behind closed doors. JAMES MADDISON
Age: 21
Club: Leicester City
After a £22 million close-season move from Championship side Norwich City, Maddison has played all eight games in the Premier League and has made an instant impact. The No 10 impressed with his pace, linking up well with Jamie Vardy, which got him this chance. "It is not fair because we will play against England, two World Cup semi-finalists, and we must play without fans," a visibly upset Croatia manager Zlatko Dalic said of the UEFA ban. "I know UEFA punished us but it is not right to play without fans.” MASON MOUNT
Age: 19
Club: Derby
County (on loan)
Mount is still a Chelsea player, but impressed with his 13 goals while on loan at Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem last season. He is enjoying another fruitful loan spell this time with Derby under former England and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.