GARETH SOUTHGATE needs to get back to his future in Germany, writes SunSport’s Charlie Wyett.
It certainly worked in Russia at the 2018 World Cup. And due to various problems with the defense – as illustrated in this dismal and embarrassing performance at Wembley – Southgate needs to think about playing with five at the back.
We can talk all night about England’s powerful attack and how they should definitely come out with the cigars in Berlin on July 14th.
However, there is now genuine reason to panic as we are just eight days away from the first game against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen and the defense is a total mess.
England have kept just two clean sheets in their last seven games. If Southgate’s side are to play seven games in Germany – and that would mean a final appearance – there must be a huge improvement.
The Three Lions will leave the group because it is virtually impossible not to. But if England don’t improve, they will end up being eliminated in the round of 16, as happened against Iceland at Euro 2016.
Speaking at Middlesbrough’s training ground on Sunday, Southgate was asked if he thought of a back five which, in Russia, saw his team reach the semi-finals.
He said: “We haven’t done it yet. Of course we could. We know all the strengths and weaknesses of doing it. It’s interesting to read about the proposal because I think we’ve been pretty much killed for doing it for a long period.
“But given our tactical flexibility, we would look at everything and it would be foolish to rule anything out. You can play three in different ways.
“Anyway, you build with a three now, so some aspects of our game might have a three involved.
“But for me, it’s less about fitting players into the team, but about having the best team and the best players to come in, because that’s what’s needed in tournaments.”
It was only after the 2018 World Cup that Southgate revealed why he played with three central defenders. This was because he was concerned about the inexperience of Harry Maguire, who played just five times before heading to Russia.
Due to Maguire’s exclusion from the squad due to his physical condition, Marc Guehi will take his place and this was only his 11th cap.
Guehi was England’s best defender, but against better opponents and in a more pressured environment, he will be tested more. Against Bosnia and Herzegovina, he didn’t play very well.
However, last night John Stones – having started just 12 Premier League games for Manchester City in his worst season for the club – struggled mightily before being replaced by Ezri Konsa at half-time.
It didn’t help that Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson fell on him early on, but Stones wasn’t covered in glory when the same Icelandic player scored the winning goal.
Luke Shaw, sidelined since February with a thigh injury, will not be fit before the second game.
And with Ben Chilwell not even making the provisional 33, Southgate currently only has right-handed defenders.
Kyle Walker is arguably the best right-back in Europe, but his form deteriorated in the final two months of the season for Manchester City.
He was caught off guard with the first goal as he appeared to have left his turbo boosters at Tottenham’s training ground. He then blamed Phil Foden for not covering properly.
After making big changes in the final quarter, England’s back four were Trent Alexander-Arnold, Konsa, Guehi and Joe Gomez. That’s not a defense you want to see in the latter stages
Therefore, Southgate needs to think about having three centre-backs, with Walker moving into the central three, as he did in Russia, alongside Stones and Guehi.
Trent Alexander-Arnold would be more comfortable at right back with Trippier on the other side before Shaw’s return.
With a five-man defense, Southgate would partner Declan Rice with Kobbie Mainoo or Adam Wharton, but you would lose an attacking player.
Bukayo Saka would have to make way and you would have Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden as attacking midfielders playing behind Harry Kane.
Southgate also played with a back five against Italy in the Euro 2020 final, although he has since ruled it out.
But regardless, if he continues with a back four, he will want his players to do the basics better. And then we can think about maybe winning a match in the round of 16.
As for reaching the final, let’s leave that on the back burner.
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