BANK ON STERLING
Even if Raheem is struggling for form with his club, he always delivers for Three Lions and is set to start Monday’s World Cup opener
IN the first game of the last tournament, he came up with the goods.
It is why there should be no doubting Raheem Sterling and what he brings to England at the major events.
He was the Three Lions’ best player in the Euros, scoring the winner in their curtain-raiser against Croatia – and he and the team never looked back.
No matter what is going on at club level, Gareth Southgate has absolute belief in the attacker as his go-to man for the World Cup in Qatar.
Sterling, 27, is single-minded enough to put everything else out of his thoughts, focus on England and lift himself from the mixed fortunes at Chelsea.
There was a similar discussion ahead of the Euros, because he was not a guaranteed starter for Manchester City at the time.
But anyone who had followed England regularly would know that Sterling has become so determined whenever he pulls on the shirt that he is a player who the coach trusts and relies upon.
It is also worth remembering that Southgate does – quite rightly – put great store in what players do for him and the national side irrespective of club form. For example, Jordan Pickford’s stats are nowhere near as impressive as those of his two rivals, Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope, at club level this season.
But Pickford has never let England down and it is simply not even a conversation as to who will start in goal.
Newcastle fans are screaming for Pope – who is arguably now No.2 in the pecking order – to be given a chance based on his displays for the Toon this campaign.
The harsh reality is that Pope was given a chance two months ago when England had backto-back games in the Nations League and hardly covered himself in glory in Italy, while he was at fault for Germany’s late equaliser at Wembley. There can be no complaints about the choice of keeper and nor should there be about Sterling’s place in the front three in what will almost certainly be a 3-4-3 formation.
The team is sure to feature Harry Maguire in defence as, again, Southgate has backed the Manchester United defender through all of his trials and tribulations.
Maguire (right with Sterling) has lost his place at Old Trafford and yet Southgate has been regularly in touch with him, reassuring him on the phone and with messages.
That earns trust and respect from players who are then ready to run through brick walls for their manager (below, with his assistant, Steve
Holland). It is time to also unleash Jude Bellingham on the international stage as the Borussia Dortmund teenager is regularly dominating games in the Champions League.
Bellingham has a real presence, he is huge in stature and he can carry himself in any midfield against any opponent in the world.
He should be England’s playmaking superstar for the next 10 years.
Southgate has almost certainly got most of his team nailed down and is set on his back-three formation, while Phil Foden is favourite to be alongside Sterling with Harry Kane up front.
It is in defence where change is most likely. The players may well be shuffled around when – and if – Kyle Walker is fit to start in the back three.
But the core of England’s line-up is set and, even though some fans may disagree, Sterling and Maguire have done more than enough to start against Iran on Monday.