EURO FINALS DECISION TIME LOOMS FOR SOUTHGATE AND ENGLAND
▶ Upcoming World Cup qualifiers can help answer some big questions about Three Lions’ squad, writes Richard Jolly
England have three fixtures this week but Gareth Southgate has two tasks. Games against San Marino, Albania and Poland get progressively harder, but the England manager does not just need to book a place at next year’s World Cup. He has to work out his squad for the belated Euro 2020 as well. He can only name 23 players then while his current party includes 26 and seven other recent call-ups are injured but could be back, so it is no easy job. He has many a decision to make:
Is the back three here to stay?
Southgate’s use of three centre-backs worked well at the World Cup. Yet a switch to a back four rendered England more attacking. They scored 38 goals in 2019 before Southgate reverted to a back three in 2020 and goals became scarcer.
The vast majority of outsiders probably want 4-3-3, which incorporates an attacking midfielder, but Southgate has been obstinate. He can now reunite his 2018 back three, with John Stones returning alongside Harry Maguire and Kyle Walker. And the selection of Conor Coady, who excels in a three for Wolves but has rarely played as one of two centre-backs, is another sign his mind is made up.
Who is his first-choice goalkeeper?
Jordan Pickford has been a curiosity: often error-prone for Everton, but better for England, where his mistakes have been rarer and tend not to cost his country. Southgate has been loyal to him, but the situation is changing and not merely because Pickford’s hip injury rules him out.
Nick Pope has been the outstanding English goalkeeper in the Premier League over the last two seasons but lacks Pickford’s passing game, partly because Burnley play a different style.
Pickford, Hendersen or Pope – the goalkeeper choice is between three very different candidates at a roughly similar level
Dean Henderson may now be displacing David de Gea as Manchester United’s first choice: if he does, he will surely seem England’s longterm No 1. For now, however, the choice is between three very different candidates at a roughly similar level.
Does Shaw leapfrog Chilwell?
Luke Shaw has not played for England since 2018 and only has two caps under Southgate. Ben Chilwell’s status as England’s first-choice left wingback seemed secure.
Now Marcos Alonso seems Thomas Tuchel’s preferred option for Chelsea while the resurgent Shaw is in the form of his life and the outstanding left-back in the Premier League.
England’s different role
also poses questions – is each actually a better full-back than wing-back? – while the versatility of Bukayo Saka, who will miss the San Marino game on Thursday, means he could be the back-up. If so, Shaw and Chilwell are competing for one place in the eventual squad.
Who understudies the midfield?
England have plenty of strength in other positions, but arguably less here. There is little doubt that Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson are Southgate’s preferred partnership but the Liverpool captain is injured.
Mason Mount excelled alongside his friend Rice in the deeper role in November’s 4-0 win over Iceland. So far, Tuchel is only using him in the
front three for Chelsea, but Mount should be more of a midfielder for England.
The other choices are imperfect: Jude Bellingham has the talent but precious little experience, the workhorse James Ward-Prowse is an old ally of Southgate but the passer Harry Winks was not called up.
Kalvin Phillips is presumably Rice’s deputy, though given Southgate’s loyalty to Eric Dier, perhaps he could be displaced by the versatile Tottenham man, even if he is more of a centre-back now.
Is there a way back for Trent Alexander-Arnold?
The most controversial omission was Alexander-Arnold, perhaps the world’s best rightback in 2019 and 2020. Yet this was a decision with an air of
finality. Barring an injury to Kieran Trippier or Reece James, it is hard to see a way back this summer for the Liverpool player.
Which flair players miss out?
Southgate is blessed with riches in the attacking midfield and wing positions. The current presumption is that Mount, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish will join Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling in his final squad, but that might be a squeeze.
Saka may need his adaptability to get in while injuries have denied Harvey Barnes and James Maddison the chance to stake their claim. But the in-form Jesse Lingard is back in contention. There will not be room for all.