These kids have that bit of magic. They unlock the door with imagination and vision. They are the future
SPORTSMAIL’S THREE WISE MEN
On how Gareth Southgate frees the minds of his young players, allowing them to shine on the biggest stage
WHAT WAS THE BEST THING ABOUT ENGLAND’S 5-0 WIN OVER THE CZECH REPUBLIC? JAMIE REDKNAPP:
The fearlessness. For years, we’ve seen England sides crippled by fear. It was a major problem. The players wouldn’t feel they could express themselves. Then Gareth Southgate came along. He’s freed their minds.
Just look at Jadon Sancho’s double nutmeg against the Czech Republic on his full competitive debut. That sums it up. Even our attackers as young as 18 and 19 aren’t afraid to express themselves under Southgate and that’s what the manager wants.
He came in with a clear idea of how he wants his side to perform. He’s not scared to make big decisions, he doesn’t let the press pick the team and is doing what he thinks is best.
CHRIS SUTTON:
The manner in which they won. It was important for England to get their European Championship qualifying off to a good start and winning by five was a statement. They have carried on their momentum from the summer’s World Cup seamlessly.
I know we’ve all been hailing him since that tournament but I cannot help thinking it’s down to the manager. Southgate is willing to give young players the opportunity to play. He shows faith in them. That is something we may not have seen with previous England hierarchies.
Youngsters might have feared if they did not take their first chance, a second one might not follow. That is not the case with Southgate. The mindset is different.
MARTIN KEOWN:
How comfortable it was. There was a gulf in class between the two teams. You could see England were brimming with confidence, which is something that has been lacking in previous generations. In the past, players have not been able to duplicate their club form on the international stage but they made it look easy against the Czech Republic.
The manager deserves credit for that. England were dominant, controlling 66.4 per cent possession. Their first goal, scored by Raheem Sterling, was like something you’d see from Manchester City. Southgate is asking his players to play in a way that is not too dissimilar to how they play with their clubs. That settles them and England are reaping the rewards.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IN THE TEAM AGAINST MONTENEGRO? SUTTON:
I wanted to see Declan Rice start at Wembley and for me, with Dier sidelined, that should now happen. He deserves his shot for the season he’s had.
When Eric Dier went off against the Czech Republic I thought Rice would replace him but Southgate stuck with Ross Barkley. Without wishing to sound harsh, I’m not sure the Chelsea man brings enough to the table.
England have drawn three of their last four games against Montenegro so this is no foregone conclusion. For me, keep the same starting line-up, but bring in Rice for the injured Dier.
REDKNAPP:
I think it’s too soon for Callum Hudson- Odoi to start. He’s got the skills and speed that can frighten defenders but he has to feature regularly for Chelsea first. You can see there is so much talent in the 18-year-old. Once he is playing week in, week out, like Sancho is in Germany, then the confidence will come.
Southgate’s only other dilemma is whether to replace the injured Dier with Rice. Playing away from home in a competitive fixture is not easy but he is more of a defenceminded option than Barkley.
KEOWN:
England will not be taking these qualifying fixtures lightly. They will want to qualify as quickly as possible. The Nations League, where England are in the semifinals and face Holland in June, also offers an alternative route into the European Championship.
But for now, Southgate’s focus is on Montenegro. He will pick his strongest team. He’s lost Dier to injury and Barkley could slot in, just as he did against the Czechs.
It would be a big ask for Rice to start for the first time away in Montenegro. Sterling should start again. That’s why Southgate took him off before the end of the game on Friday night.
WILL JESSE LINGARD AND MARCUS RASHFORD STRUGGLE TO GET BACK INTO THE STARTING LINE-UP? REDKNAPP:
The way Rashford performs for Manchester United, it would be hard to leave him out, even if Sancho is pushing to
start. harry Kane and Sterling are immovable too. They’re the two most important players. Lingard can be deployed in a deeper role like he was during the World Cup.
There is competition for places, though, and Southgate must be loving the fact he has so many in-form forwards to choose from. This is a problem england have not had for years, so let’s enjoy it.
KEOWN:
It’s hard to leave Rashford out when he is fit. The 21-year-old is an immense talent and Sancho has still got a bit to do before he can keep him out of the team.
It’s good that we’ve got this competition, of course. Sancho will battle with Rashford, as will Chelsea teenager hudson- Odoi, and that is an exciting prospect. These kids look like they are the future of england. They unlock the door with their imagination and vision. They have that bit of magic.
SUTTON:
What a great problem for Southgate to have. Kane, Sterling and Sancho were electric at Wembley on Friday. Kane’s linkup play, with the pace of Sterling and Sancho on either side, was outstanding. his through-ball in the build-up to Sterling’s opener was weighted perfectly. Kane and Sterling are irreplaceable for me.
Sancho has the other shirt at the moment but certainly a fit Rashford would have something to say about that. Still, this is what Southgate wants. You’re not looking around and thinking, ‘Who can fill that void?’ england, in the attacking areas, have strength in depth.
WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF JADON SANCHO ON HIS FIRST COMPETITIVE START? SUTTON:
For such a young man he has real maturity about him. he doesn’t get flustered. Decisionmaking can be one of the trickiest things to get right but he looks to have it mastered at times.
he’s not one who hogs the ball for the sake of it. he does the simple things when the time is right, too. You have to take your hat off to Sancho for cutting his teeth by joining Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga. There is more for him to learn but he already looks like he’s been playing for years.
KEOWN:
What I liked was his intelligence. What players like Sancho have to learn is when to execute their moments of artistry. We used to see how Cristiano Ronaldo might showboat. now those tricks are used to put his opponents on their backsides. he doesn’t overindulge. That’s the balance that Sancho must find.
On Friday, he understood Southgate’s system well. There was talk of how outstanding he’d been in training and he’s taking the england manager’s instructions on board in games, too.
Sterling’s opener involved a lovely crisp cross from Sancho. There were opportunities later when he could have gone at his opponent and didn’t. I wonder if that was down to tiredness.
As he grows and gets stronger that will improve.
REDKNAPP:
his double nutmeg was outrageous. I made my international debut in September 1995 in a 0-0 draw with Colombia at Wembley and I was involved in a spot of showboating too, albeit by accident. I chipped the ball towards the goal and Colombia goalkeeper Rene higuita saved it with a scorpion kick, so I don’t think anything will beat that.
Sancho is an example of what kids are being taught in academies up and down the country. Kids these days are coached to be able to play with both feet and express themselves. We’ve seen in the past how Spain were capable of producing starlet after starlet. Germany had their time, too. hopefully it’s england’s turn.
HOW HAS SOUTHGATE INSTILLED THIS SENSE OF BELIEF IN ENGLAND? REDKNAPP:
It’s all about winning games. When you win, the confidence flows. You go to Wembley, you pull on the england shirt and you enjoy it. You’re not afraid of making a mistake. You’re not worried that the supporters might suddenly turn on you. If you suffered loss after loss you’d lose belief or get fed up, but england have continued their momentum from the World Cup.
Southgate has proved he is the perfect guy for the job. expectations were low when he took over so he said: ‘ Look, let’s give our youngsters a chance and let’s make it enjoyable to play for england.’ That’s what he’s done.
SUTTON:
It’s as if the young players are playing in a youth side rather than for the england first team. They’re just so at ease. There’s no fear. When you know your manager trusts and believes in you, it creates a different mindset. To know he is willing to give you multiple opportunities, and more than a mere 10 or 20 minutes to impress him is huge.
Southgate has that belief in these starlets and the players see it. They love turning up and pulling on that shirt. In the past the pressure might have held them back.
KEOWN:
That’s down to the environment. Southgate has built a culture. he wants his players to feel comfortable when with the national team and that includes the way they pass the ball.
Southgate went for Michael Keane at the back alongside harry Maguire at Wembley because he wanted someone who is proficient in possession. england’s two central defenders acted like servers, bouncing the ball into their teammates. If it came back they were more than happy to have it and try again.
england’s defence wasn’t really challenged by the Czech Republic. Maybe Montenegro, or holland in the nations League, will test them so we can see what they can do defensively as well as when they have the ball at their feet.