DEFENSIVE DEFICIENCIES CLOUD ENGLAND’S QUEST FOR GLORY
While Three Lions have quality up front they need a solid display against Serbia in their Euro opener
England’s attacking arsenal sees them start Euro 2024 as the bookmakers’ favourites to end a wait since 1966 to win a major tournament, but some doubts persist over the Three Lions ahead of their opener against Serbia tonight.
Gareth Southgate’s men have won just one of their last five matches – a run that includes a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia and a shock 1-0 home defeat by Iceland in their final warm-up match before flying out to Germany.
England are still expected to cruise through a group that also includes Denmark and Slovenia.
However, a dominant display is required against the Serbs in Gelsenkirchen at 3am, Hong Kong time, to settle nerves at the start of another tournament filled with high expectations, but which could still fail to deliver a longawaited trophy.
The biggest question over England’s credentials to be
European champions is at the back as injury has robbed Southgate of his settled back four from previous tournaments.
Harry Maguire failed to make the squad due to a calf problem, while Luke Shaw is included as the only natural left back despite not having played any minutes for club or country since February.
John Stones is therefore even more crucial as the one experienced centre back at international tournament level, but the Manchester City man has also been dogged by fitness problems this season.
Kieran Trippier, a right back by trade, is set to start against Serbia at left back. Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi is the leading candidate to partner Stones for his first major tournament start.
England’s defensive deficiencies have already been exploited by Brazil, Belgium and Iceland this year.
And Serbia have the firepower to hurt them with their powerful strike pairing of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic.
Mitrovic has been one of the
Saudi Pro League’s most successful imports and the Serbian striker believes he can carry that form into the Euros to shock England
Mitrovic spent eight years in England at Newcastle and Fulham before forcing through a move to the riches and sunnier climes of Saudi 12 months ago.
Amid a flurry of star names headed to the Gulf kingdom, including Al Hilal teammate Neymar, Mitrovic’s move largely went under the radar.
But Neymar’s serious knee injury left the Serb to spearhead an unbeaten season as Al Hilal won the treble of league, Super Cup and King’s Cup.
“So far, I’ve felt the best I’ve felt in my life – physically and mentally,” he told The Times.
“I play a lot more games than I used to play at Fulham and here I play in the best team and I am scoring a lot of goals. I play almost every game. If you put that with a lot of winning then I can continue to play like that for my country.”
Already Serbia’s all-time top goalscorer by a distance, Mitrovic has netted 58 times in 91 caps.
Southgate’s paucity of options at the back are compensated by the abundance of weapons in attack.
“England’s front six is one of the best if not the best in world football,” former England captain Alan Shearer said. “The players, the talent we have will be a threat for anyone in world football.”
Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish and James Maddison failed to even make the 26-man squad. The quartet of Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane is the envy of Europe.
However, Southgate is still to find the right balance to help them perform on the international stage to the same level as they have for their clubs this season – the quartet scored a combined 114 goals in club football in the 2023-24 campaign.
Foden won English Premier League player of the year accolades this season from a central role but has been shunted out left to accommodate Bellingham as a No 10.
However, there are still many in England who doubt Southgate’s killer instinct to be able to get over the line when it counts.
England’s front six is one of the best if not the best in world football ... they will be a threat ALAN SHEARER, EX-ENGLAND CAPTAIN