Roy confirms Kane to star for Under 21s
HARRY KANE will play for England Under 21s in this summer’s European Championship after holding talks with Gareth Southgate. England’s head coach Roy Hodgson confirmed that Kane, 21, will join up with the junior squad when he returns from Tottenham’s post-season trip to Malaysia and Australia. Hodgson said: ‘Harry wants to finish the job he has done and Harry wants to go with the Under 21s. He has been a major part of their qualifying campaign for the last 18 months. It has been pretty obvious to me he would like to play in this tournament.’ Although Southgate will turn to Kane this summer, Everton’s Ross Barkley and Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling — both eligible for the tournament — will be excused.
Build our midfield around Carrick
TUESDAY night against Italy could be the most important England game Michael Carrick has ever played. The difference between the first and the second half was like night and day. When Carrick came on, England started to play.
Having played in his position, and alongside him, it has been frustrating to see him unappreciated in this country. We have always had a major problem keeping the ball, but Carrick keeps the game simple. That’s exactly what we need.
Roy Hodgson’s team against Italy looked like he had one eye on the future, but the only future England need to be focusing on is Euro 2016. If that means going with a 34-yearold Michael Carrick in the heart of midfield, so be it.
Even though he’s 33 now, it’s still not too late to start building the midfield around him. If I were England manager, that’s just what I’d do. Look at Andrea Pirlo — he is 36 next month and has blossomed in his later years. His passing tore England apart at the World Cup and he is worshipped in Italy. Why can’t we love Carrick in the same way?
The fact he has been ignored by England for so long is a sad indictment of where we have been going wrong for so many years. In this country we tend to focus a lot on what players can’t do rather than what they can. We love all-action players like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard but that’s why men like Carrick can be left frustrated.
It was not long ago that defensive midfielders had to snap into every tackle. At Manchester United in particular, Carrick has had to deal with ‘Keane Syndrome’ — because he’s not Roy Keane. He’s not as mobile, he doesn’t grab games in the same way and he certainly doesn’t t tackle like Keane. But that is not his style. Keane was an amazing player but there will never be another like him and the game has evolved.
The best deep-lyingng midfielders of recentent years have been passers,sers, not pit bulls: Pirlo, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Sergio Busquets. All of them are cultured players who look after the ball. And don’t be fooled by a powerhouse like Nemanja Matic — he can pick out any kind of pass with that left foot. These aren’t just defensive destroyers any more, these are the men starting the attacks.
They may not have the best stats for goals or assists, but they are at the heart of it all. It’s the same with Andres Iniesta and Luka Modric — they keep things ticking over, as does Carrick. He makes the passes that lead to the key pass.
The midfield that started in Turin was powerful and athletic, but sometimes you need a bit of guile. In a way, it was a good job the first half was so poor as it meant Carrick could come on and rereally show what he can do. Friendlies might be a good time to experiment but that first half in Italy made for some uncomfortable viewing. Phil Jones has had a decent season at centre back but looked awkward in midfield and England’s passing was too slow and square. Carrick changed that.
All of a sudden there was a different tempo to the game. England were fluid and found more room to move against a tough opponent.
When he gets possession, Carrick quickly gets the ball out of his feet and tries to slide passes forward. He’s not the toughest of tacklers but he doesn’t need to be. He reads the game brilliantly and intercepts the ball so well that he doesn’t need to go charging after people.
He has fantastic vision, which means his team-mates can get into dangerous positions. They know that if anyone can pick out a pass, it’s Carrick. He is so comfortable on the ball and probably England’s most two-footed player since Glenn Hoddle. He’s not in Hoddle’s class, but he is so well balanced with both feet.
I’ve said it before but Carrick has a nasty habit of passing to his own players. It might not look flash but he makes the game look easy. That’s why so many of his team-mates love playing alongside him.
He might be a quiet personality but you can see the effect he has on those around him. United have been far better with him than without him this season and Daley Blind, who many thought would replace him, has been shunted out of position. That’s because Carrick is a better player in that role. It’s also important to have experience in that position — I’ve never felt it’s one for a young player. Hodgson has tried Jack Wilshere but Carrick knows the role at club level. Of course Wilshere could play next to him, but at present Carrick is the best man for the job.
Considering he won his first cap against Mexico in 2001 (left), it’s amazing he has not featured more for England. He has not always taken his chances, but now is a golden opportunity to build our midfield around him. It’s still not too late to make sure England have a pass master in place for Euro 2016.