Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Goal-hungry Lions need defence to be mane priority
ENGLAND can create history this month – but you’re not going to like the message behind that bold opening statement.
A team that ooze attacking threat, which have goals at the heart of its DNA, and have left a nation calling for the handbrake to be decommissioned, never mind let off.
Goals, goals, goals – they’re the name of the game – and we have a collection to match any in the last couple of generations.
Harry Kane remains one of the world’s most potent forwards, Phil Foden is enjoying the form of his life, Cole Palmer has collected more than 20 for Chelsea, Bukayo Saka’s displays for Arsenal have been eye-catching.
Jude Bellingham has confounded the bookies – he was double-digits against scoring 10 or more in La Liga at the start of the season – and the availability of several others boost boss Southgate’s hand still further.
One of Jarrod Bowen, Anthony Gordon,
Jack Grealish, Eberechi Eze or James Maddison would be unlucky not to board the plane for Germany.
The only decision for England’s manager is who misses out.
But it’s the balance of his squad behind that where he needs to think hard.
He needs cover – particularly if Declan Rice picks up an injury.
And he also needs to ensure he’s not left exposed if any of his back line suffer similarly.
To that end, the rise of those who have proved themselves capable of playing in different roles could be crucial in shaping his decision to cut his 33-man squad by seven. If he is to give England licence to cause damage, he needs to ensure he is not caught out.
Listening to Southgate’s messages after the provisional group was revealed was telling.
“We’ve scored more goals per game than in any other era, apart from Walter Winterbottom’s,” was one statement that was clearly pre-prepared.
That was a rebuke to those who want a purely cavalier approach.
“We have clear talent in attacking areas,” was his way of saying that “I know there are goals in this team”.
He offered up an additional clue to his mindset by offering up the comment that
“the top three in the Premier League had the best defensive records”.
Again, another fact not to be tossed out without prior homework.
It’s all pointing to a back five that have one change – Harry Maguire for Tyrone
Mings – to that which started at the last Euros.
But it is players such as Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomez – who all fill, or have filled, dual roles at their clubs – that could prove the key.
Guehi, in particular, has been a late-season revelation for Crystal Palace playing in front of the back four. He is a favourite of Southgate, having come through the Three Lions pathway.
Could Guehi fill the gap left by Kalvin Phillips’ downturn in form? Kobbie Mainoo is the obvious alternative.
England were successful at the last Euros not because they blew away the opposition in terms of goals, but because they were so difficult to break down.
It’s dull, a cliche, but undeniably true: tournaments are won on the back of defensive solidity.
And if Southgate cracks that code, England’s years of hurt should be over.