England boss Gareth Southgate has put faith in his reliable players as he bids for Euro 2024 glory. Southgate has been England’s manager for six and a half years, and during that time, he has adopted a very balanced approach to the job, fully knowing and embracing his role as a figurehead and unofficial ambassador for the national game. He’s urged his young team to speak up, utilize their platform for good, and fight injustice and bigotry wherever they see it. That’s why the ‘new’ Southgate appears to be such a radical departure from the old. It is the mark of the man: he is still very professional, well-spoken, and respectful. But now, if you ask Southgate a football question with a moral or political undertone, he will divert it.
He wants to concentrate on football, and it appears that he will no longer be drawn into larger concerns unless they benefit his cause. That represents a huge departure in the England manager’s public persona, but it also coincides with a substantial adjustment in the way he deals with the players. When he first accepted the job in 2016, he spoke passionately and idealistically about his football philosophy: in order to play for England, you had to be playing consistently and well for your club.
When I questioned him at the start of this international break why so many in-form Premier League players had been left out of his squad, he said, “Impossible.” He stated that he will select his “best” players, even if they are not receiving regular club football. Yet, as if to emphasize the point, even when this England squad was decimated by injury and suspension, reducing it to just 17 eligible outfield players, Southgate refused to call in reinforcements. Yet, as if to emphasize the point, even when this England squad was decimated by injury and suspension, reducing it to just 17 eligible outfield players, Southgate refused to call in reinforcements.
Ivan Toney made his England debut against Ukraine, his second call-up. Toney is one of only three players (together with James Justin and Jarrod Bowen) who have made their England debut in the last 12 months, compared to 10 and 13 in the previous two years. Southgate has previously worked hard to get first-time players on the pitch so that they can adjust rapidly to the situation and be better equipped for international football if called upon in the future. Not so much anymore.
This could be due in part to Southgate’s determination to leave the FA at the end of Euro 2024. He aspires to be a manager in the Premier League. So it’s reasonable if he doesn’t have a long-term plan to bring in additional talent in the next 18 months. It’s also because England’s manager believes his team is on the verge of winning a major title. And he is confident that the experiences his players gained in Euros and the World Cup will prepare them to mount a serious challenge at Euro 2024 in Germany. Those players who haven’t competed in those key tournaments will struggle to make the starting XI for the crucial games.
When England plays Malta and North Macedonia in Euro qualification in June, there may be more fresh faces and more experimentation. But what about in important games against harder opponents? It appears that it will be tried and tested. Southgate’s tolerance of any player who does not fully commit to the England cause appears to be wearing thin. James Maddison earned his first start against Ukraine in part because of his positive attitude and teamwork within the group in Qatar, when injury denied him any game time during the World Cup.
The England coaches were equally thrilled with Luke Shaw, who stayed and trained with this team until the very end, despite the fact that he couldn’t play against Ukraine due to suspension. Compare those two to Marcus Rashford, whom England boss Gareth Southgate snubbed before the Italy game. When asked if Rashford would be a big miss for England due to his exceptional form for Manchester United, Southgate responded, “when you haven’t had him that often, it’s different to being a loss.” Southgate qualified his remarks, saying he had no problem with Rashford or any other player going on holiday to relax if they weren’t available to play. But the frustration is palpable behind the scenes.
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