England’s fab four time their run perfectly
A night on the Styles: England lads let hair down with Harry & Co But look away now, Dunk and Grealish
ENGLAND may have failed to beat two top opponents at Wembley, but the real winners and losers from this international break were always going to be individuals.
This is audition season, when team-mates are rivals just as much as those in opposition.
Is it any wonder that we saw two very different team performances when players are motivated more by self-interest than that of the collective? It is a reality of international football on the eve of a major tournament.
A lifetime of training, travelling, matches, watching, listening and learning, yet it could all boil down to 90 minutes or less. Friendlies? The competition is fierce.
Against Belgium, it was telling that those assured of their place in Germany — the likes of Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden — were not at their very best until the closing stages, when England pressed to avoid defeat.
Those busting a gut, by comparison, were the understudies whose role in the final show is yet to be determined. For some, it was more of a bust than busting and you suspect their chance has now gone.
As manager Gareth Southgate said: ‘We needed to expose the areas that we are short in.’
Here, we take a look at those winners and losers…
WINNERS KOBBIE MAINOO
AN England Under 21 player last week, a starter for the senior side this. Now, you feel, he is favourite to start alongside Rice in the midfield this summer.
It was his bravery that stood out against Belgium, particularly in possession. At 18, he could have played it safe and negotiated his full debut without making a mistake. Some more experienced colleagues still play like that.
But Mainoo, at times, was like a winger in the middle, dribbling, dropping a shoulder and always looking to move the ball forward. His nutmeg of Amadou Onana captured the spirit of his performance — here was a boy bringing men down to size.
It was not just the opposition who were reduced in stature and reputation, for Mainoo has stormed ahead of several seniors in the pecking order.
As Southgate said: ‘He gives us a profile of player we haven’t got. That’s hugely exciting.’
JARROD BOWEN
STEVE BRUCE once said he wasn’t sure Bowen was good enough for the Premier League. He had signed him for Hull and had just taken over at Newcastle in 2019. Five years on and he looks good enough for a place at the European Championship.
There was a hint of it during a late cameo against Brazil, a dribble of pace and adventure. He picked up where he left off when starting three days later, dashing down the right wing inside 30 seconds. In fact, he did not let up. This was Bowen’s best display yet for England. He played without fear and was direct, running at his opponent at every chance. He has timed his run for Germany well.
THERE was less of Bowen’s bravado about Gordon’s debut versus Brazil, but there was discipline, energy and the attacking intent to produce two of his team’s three shots on target.
He looked like a player who could be trusted — consistency for Newcastle has been his greatest strength — and given England’s problems at left back, his willingness to run just as hard in both directions will not be lost on Southgate.
His two sittings in front of the media were underpinned by enthusiasm and intelligence and Southgate likes his attitude. The reputation that followed him from Everton to Newcastle last year is a thing of the past. Gordon looks like a future squad regular.
IVAN TONEY
OK, he only scored a penalty, said some. But in the moments before it was taken — three minutes of standing around, ball in hand, waiting for VAR to complete its check — there was something about Toney that looked like an international player.
There was an arrogance, a swagger, an ego that enjoyed the bright lights being on him and him alone. He slotted his penalty home with no fuss, as he always does. Don’t forget how important
a guaranteed scorer from 12 yards is at a tournament — Southgate certainly will not.
But it was not just that. Toney’s hold-up play and desire to make an impact gave purpose to England’s attack. He is the best alternative to Harry Kane.
LOSERS CONOR GALLAGHER
HE has started his last three England games but, against Brazil, it felt like he played his way out of the team.
Maybe his confidence has been affected by his situation at Chelsea, who are actively trying to sell him this summer. He needs out of there, you feel.
When he spoke to the media on Saturday night, there was no real verve or animation and that mirrored his performance. He looks like someone unsure of what his role might be, falling between two stools of playing deeper alongside Rice and joining the attack with Bellingham. In the end, he did neither very well.
He would have watched Mainoo star against Belgium and wondered if his place in the squad, let alone the team, is now under threat.
LEWIS DUNK
AT 32, Dunk’s days with England might well be done. Romelu Lukaku will not be the best striker at the Euros, but he was too good for the Brighton centre-back at Wembley. He was shaky in the second half against Brazil, too. The competition in defence isn’t great, but this had the feel of a player falling down the pecking order, much like his fall when Lukaku turned him inside out before setting up Youri Tielemans for his second goal.
OLLIE WATKINS
HARSH? Not if Southgate only takes two strikers to Germany. If so, Watkins probably won’t be one of them. Unlike Toney, he does not have a strut about him at this level. He did very well in recycling the ball for Bellingham’s goal on Tuesday night, but he’s in the team to score and during a full 90 minutes against Brazil offered little threat. An increase to a 26-man squad could be his salvation but he’s yet to convince as an England player.
JACK GREALISH
PSTHERE was little he could do sat at home after returning from injury recently, but them’s the breaks ahead of a major finals.
He will have watched Bowen and Gordon stake their claim and it would have felt like a punch to the stomach. As my colleague Sami Mokbel reveals in his likely 26-man squad, there is no place for Grealish. SPARE a thought for goalkeeper Sam Johnstone. It would be unfair to call him a ‘loser’, but he has lost out on a Euros place because of an elbow injury, picked up during England training.