England eye top spot
SOUTHGATE: INSISTS HIS YOUNG SIDE SIDE CAN OVERCOME GROWING PAINS
Gareth Southgate insists England can overcome their growing pains as his young side aim to get their Euro 2020 campaign back on track by winning Group D against the Czech Republic today.
England are level on four points with the Czechs and will be guaranteed a first-place finish if they win their last group match.
A victory at Wembley feels essential for England to lift the gloom that descended after they were booed off following Friday’s lacklustre 0-0 draw with old rivals Scotland.
With an average age of 25 years and 31 days, England’s starting line-up against Scotland was the youngest they had ever fielded in a major tournament.
Chelsea duo Mason Mount and Reece James and Manchester City’s Phil Foden have already won trophies with their clubs, while Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips have earned rave reviews on the Premier League stage.
But there is nothing quite like the intensity of an international competition and just a handful of England’s current crop have tasted it before.
That lack of experience showed up in England’s failure to deal with Scotland’s astute game-plan and well-drilled defence.
Southgate’s side were only marginally better in a 1-0 win against Croatia in their first game and there are mounting concerns that a potential last-16 meeting with France, Germany or Portugal could prove too much for England to handle.
Southgate acknowledged it is a learning process for England as they come to terms with the unique pressures of tournament action.
“This is a relatively inexperienced group, I think the third least caps in the tournament,” Southgate said.
“Against Scotland it was a young team so that’s a different experience for a lot of them than they’ve every faced before.
“They’ve just about survived it. We want to be better and that’s what we’re going to work through in the next few days before we play the Czech Republic.”
Southgate has hinted at changes for the Czech game as he looks to revitalise a team yet to hit their stride.
His biggest selection issue concerned captain Harry Kane, who has yet to score or even manage a shot on target in the tournament.
The subdued Spurs striker was substituted in both games, even sparking calls to leave him out.
But dropping the Premier League’s top scorer this season would have been a huge gamble for Southgate, who on Sunday confirmed Kane will start. “He is fundamental not only to the goals he scores but the buildup play and everything else he brings. He is our most important player, there is no doubt about that,” said Southgate.
Foden and Mount have struggled to link up with Kane, while Raheem Sterling’s winner against Croatia was one of his few influential moments so far.
Aston Villa playmaker Jack Grealish, Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho and Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford could also come in to try improve the supply lines to Kane.