The key questions facing Southgate for England v Czech Republic
After backing Kane, Southgate must decide if Grealish, Sancho or Rashford can help the England captain find form at Euro 2020… while Bellingham could freshen up the midfield and if he doesn’t pick Maguire or Henderson for Czech Republic, then when will he?
- England’s final Euro 2020 group game is against Czech Republic on Tuesday
- After a poor 0-0 draw with Scotland, Gareth Southgate has decisions to make
- Jadon Sancho, Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire are all pushing to play
- Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here
The questions are swirling around the England camp as Gareth Southgate looks to kick-start what has been a stuttering Euro 2020 campaign so far.
The drab Scotland draw dampened the excitement after a gritty 1-0 win over Croatia and to assuage any fears in the camp that England have lost their way, Southgate has shown the squad examples of other teams who have overcome a slow start to win previous tournaments.
Furthermore, he gave a major vote of confidence to Harry Kane by announcing on Sunday that the England captain will start against Czech Republic on Tuesday despite his woeful form so far. So how does Southgate get the best out of his talisman? And where else should he stick, and where should he twist? Sportsmail assesses the big decisions
Gareth Southgate has already confirmed under fire Harry Kane starts against Czech Republic
TIME TO TALK ABOUT KANE
The Golden Boot winner of the 2018 World Cup has looked flat, out of confidence and even lacking match sharpness in England’s two games so far. He has been taken off in both matches and against Scotland, was fortunate to be on the field for as long as 74 minutes before being replaced by Marcus Rashford.
But as Kane starts on Tuesday, scrutiny immediately falls to those around him. In the first two games, Kane has been backed up by Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Phil Foden and it feels inevitable that something will change there for the final group game.
Clamour is growing for Borussia Dortmund livewire Jadon Sancho – the man Manchester United will likely spend the best part of £100m on – to finally be unleashed. If the tournament had gone ahead 12 months ago, Sancho and Sterling would have been nailed-on starters in a 4-3-3 around Kane. Is that something Southgate could be tempted to return to?
Jadon Sancho hasn’t played a minute yet for England at Euro 2020 but could face the Czechs
Southgate has brought Marcus Rashford on in attack in both Euro matches so far
Southgate is an admirer of Rashford as well – and has turned to the United man off the bench in both of England’s group games so far.
Rashford is comfortable on a flank of a three-man attack and Southgate might feel a more natural forward, rather than three attacking midfielders, might help Kane feel more supported and bring him into the game a bit more naturally.
GREALISH IN MIDFIELD?
There was an amusing moment in the Scotland match where the camera cut to Grealish tying his shoelace on the bench before getting ready to warm up. The Wembley crowd erupted in cheers and Grealish was visibly trying not to smile in recognition and maintain focus – but a small grin was there for all to see.
Everyone is desperate to see Grealish start from the off. If Southgate keeps the current 4-2-3-1 formation, then he’s a contender to come in for one of Mount, Sterling and Foden. It was a curious, and unpopular, decision by Southgate to take Foden off for Grealish against Scotland.
Alternatively, Grealish could play in a midfield three if Southgate switches to a 4-3-3 setup, as could Mount as the more attacking one of the trio. Both are appealing options. Mount is appearing alongside Southgate at a media conference on Monday to preview the Czech Republic match – a sign his place in the line-up is safe?
Fans were dismayed that when Jack Grealish finally came on for England, it was for Phil Foden
THE MIDFIELD AXIS
Could Jude Bellingham gatecrash the party? Kalvin Phillips was excellent in the opening game against Croatia and there are no qualms about Declan Rice’s ability but against Scotland, did England need them both on the pitch when they were chasing a winner in the second half?
The excitement around Bellingham is entirely justified – he already looks a resplendent player – but Southgate is protective of his younger squad members and Bellingham doesn’t turn 18 until June 29. But he has big-game experience from playing in the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund, which is something Phillips and Rice haven’t yet had.
Bellingham, who replaced Kane in the Croatia match, looks a better fit if Southgate does switch to a 4-3-3. In turn, Phillips and Rice would vie for the defensive midfield role.
Alternatively, Southgate could keep the 4-2-3-1 setup and plump for Jordan Henderson. In some respects it would be a bold move to start the Liverpool captain considering he has played just 45 minutes of football since going off with a groin injury in Liverpool’s February defeat by Everton.
But he’s one of the most experienced members of the squad and has been there and done it with Champions League and Premier League wins to his name. That know-how can be vital as the tournament progresses.
Jude Bellingham is only 17 but has big-game experience that could be useful for England
The are question marks over the availability of Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson
BRING BACK MAGUIRE?
The Henderson conundrum in midfield repeats itself in defence, where Manchester United’s Harry Maguire is back training after an ankle injury. He appears to at least be in contention to feature against the Czechs but throwing him straight back in to a game England really can’t afford to lose might seem too much of a risk to Southgate.
But if not now, then when? Like Henderson, Maguire’s experience is vital for England. Yet England’s defence hasn’t really been an issue – Tyrone Mings, who is replacing Maguire, has been solid in England’s first two matches and the defence is yet to concede in the tournament.
Had England beaten Scotland and sealed their place in the last-16, Southgate would likely have viewed this final group game as a perfect setting for Maguire and Henderson to get minutes in the tank. But now, it would be a greater risk.
If Maguire returned for England, he’d like replace Tyrone Mings who has impressed so far
Kieran Trippier is an option at right-back if Southgate wants to replace Reece James
CHANGE AGAIN AT FULL-BACK?
Southgate took Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker out for Luke Shaw and Reece James against Scotland. Starting a left-back at left-back was a welcome move as, through no fault of his own, Trippier struggled to convince out of position against Croatia. One would expect Shaw, who had an excellent season at Manchester United, will remain there.
But right-back is a different case. Southgate rates Walker, who even plays on the right of a central defence in a 3-5-2 setup, and could be tempted to return him in place of James, who failed to capture his best form in the Scotland match.
Trippier in his natural position, of course, is also a very strong option to have – he has tournament experience from England’s run to the World Cup semi-final in 2018 and offers a threat with his set-piece delivery as well. Having served Southgate so well in the past, will the England boss be tempted into restoring one of his trusted old soldiers to the team, where a win to kick-start the tournament would be so crucial?
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