How should Gareth Southgate set England up in absence of Mason Mount?
Unleash teenage tyro Bellingham, start Grealish in the No 10 role or rely on Henderson’s experience: How could Gareth Southgate respond to Mason Mount’s absence from Czech Republic clash as England look to go through to last-16 with uplifting win
- England take on the Czech Republic tonight with their last-16 place assured
- But a win will see them top Group D and set up home last-16 fixture at Wembley
- The build-up has been disrupted by Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell’s withdrawal
- Chelsea pair need to self-isolate after contact with Covid-positive Billy Gilmour
- Mount’s absence leaves a substantial hole in England midfield for the match
- But manager Gareth Southgate has plenty of options to compensate
- Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here
We now know that Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell will miss England’s final Euro 2020 group fixture with the Czech Republic tonight.
The Chelsea pair have been forced into self-isolation until Monday next week after their Wembley tunnel rendezvous with Covid-positive club-mate Billy Gilmour of Scotland after the goalless draw on Friday.
It wasn’t assured that left-back Chilwell would start the match against the Czechs and England have plenty of cover in that position in any case with Luke Shaw or Kieran Trippier available.
England’s Mason Mount (right) must self-isolate until next Monday after coming into close contact with Scotland’s Billy Gilmour (left), who subsequently tested positive for Covid-19
England manager Gareth Southgate almost certainly would have picked Mount for the match against the Czech Republic on Tuesday and so faces a midfield selection dilemma
England left-back Ben Chilwell also has to self-isolate after talking to Gilmour in the tunnel
England are through but must beat the Czech Republic on Tuesday to top their group
But the loss of Mount from the midfield does leave Gareth Southgate with a selection dilemma after what has been a disputed build-up to a match England must win to top Group D and secure home advantage in the last-16.
Southgate almost certainly would have started Mount after the Chelsea man featured in the earlier tournament games against Croatia and Scotland.
He has become one of the first names on the England teamsheet as is as trusted by Southgate as he is by club manager Thomas Tuchel.
How Southgate plugs the gap will now set the tone for England’s performance against the Czechs and it’s even more imperative to get it right in the wake of the team being booed off by fans following a dire performance against Scotland.
How much will Mount be missed?
Neither of England’s two performances so far at Euro 2020 could be described as vintage but what is for sure is that Mount has brought plenty of energy and creativity to the side.
He has covered 19.7km in the two games, behind only fellow midfielders Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice, and often looks the most likely to make something happen for England.
Mount’s tussle with Gilmour on Friday night was an intriguing sub-plot and the Scotland player was excellent in negating his Chelsea colleague’s impact on proceedings.
Mount beats Luka Modric to the ball during England’s win over Croatia in their opening game
Mount wasn’t able to make as much mark on the Scotland game but was still one of England’s better performers on a night of frustration
With Harry Kane subdued and wide forwards Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling unable to make anything spark, Mount was arguably the England player most likely to unlock that tight Scotland defence – at least until Jack Grealish came on.
Mount has maintained a high passing accuracy of 86.5 per cent in the two matches and has attempted five dribbles – the highest with Sterling – to at least show some intent.
He’s also fired off four shots over the course of the two games – more than any other England player.
He hasn’t been spectacular at the tournament yet but it’s fair to say he will be a big miss for England when they encounter what’s likely to be another well-organised and deep-lying defence against the Czechs.
Option One: Unleash Bellingham
If Southgate wishes to maintain that sense of thrust from the midfield to create and support the forwards, 17-year-old Jude Bellingham is his best bet.
The teenager knows nothing else but to push forward and keep his team moving on and the natural intent with his passing would hopefully avoid a repeat of the backwards and sideways passing borefest against Scotland.
If Bellingham partnered Rice in the centre of a 4-2-3-1 system, it would allow Southgate to play all three of Sterling, Foden and Grealish ahead of him knowing they’d be a ball-carrier to get them in the game.
Exciting 17-year-old Jude Bellingham could come into the midfield to replace Mount
Bellingham is challenged by Croatia’s Luka Modric during the Euro 2020 opener at Wembley
It would potentially expose Rice to Czech counter attacks, however, and tilt the balance of the side too far towards attack in the manager’s eyes.
But, it has to be remembered that England are heavy favourites against a Czech side ranked No 40 in the world by FIFA (England are No 4) and whom England thrashed 5-0 in their last meeting at Wembley during qualifying.
At least with Bellingham, there could be no accusations of Southgate not going for it as followed the drab display against Scotland.
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Bellingham, Rice; Sterling, Foden, Grealish; Kane
Option Two: Bring Grealish in
There have been plenty of calls for Jack Grealish to start on Tuesday night and with England in need of a spark, there’s every chance he will.
After just eight caps for England, the Aston Villa man has become the people’s champion and fans sung his name shortly before he came on against Scotland.
He is England’s best bet at unpicking a resolute defence and actually Mount’s absence makes it even more likely he’ll be involved.
Jack Grealish did offer more of a spark for England when he came off the bench on Friday
If Southgate sticks with the 4-2-3-1, he can replace Mount in that No 10 role. Or he could be stationed on the left side of midfield in a 4-3-3.
Both options could still have balance – the second of them would see Rice and Phillips act as midfield ballast to allow Grealish to drift in from the left and do his thing.
Equally, you could have Phillips/Rice, Henderson/Rice or Bellingham/Rice as the two in the first option and make the most of having Grealish’s craft in the middle and the speed of Sterling, Marcus Rashford or Jadon Sancho out wide.
In the end the Aston Villa man ended up as frustrated as the England fans after the stalemate
With such a set-up, surely Kane would get the service he desperately needs to get his tournament off and running?
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Phillips, Rice; Sterling, Grealish, Rashford; Kane
(4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Phillips, Rice, Grealish; Sterling, Kane, Rashford
Option three: Rely on Henderson’s experience
Another variation on the theme would be to bring Jordan Henderson back into the fold now he is clear of injury worries again.
That would mean Phillips would make way, which seems harsh given his excellent display against Croatia, but it could just be a temporary measure.
Henderson is long-established in the England side and positioned alongside Rice would enable Grealish or Foden to occupy the No 10 role with a decent supply of passes from midfield.
Jordan Henderson could return to the England side if Southgate opts for his experience
His vast experience would offer Southgate peace of mind to rebuff any Czech attacks before carrying the ball back upfield.
So while Mount is unquestionably a significant loss to England, there are plenty of alternative ways in which Southgate can set them up to gain the victory that not only restores morale but sends them into the last-16 as group winners and with some crucial momentum.
(4-2-3-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Mings, Shaw; Henderson, Rice; Sterling, Foden, Grealish; Kane
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