Gareth Southgate weighing up four huge weaknesses just hours before England boss names Euro 2024 training squad
GARETH SOUTHGATE hopes to lead a huge party in Trafalgar Square to mark England winning Euro 2024.
Yet before the FA can start thinking about any open-top bus tour of central London, their manager has to survey the wreckage of a car crash season for many of his stars.
And only then, can he think about plotting a route to the final on July 14 in Berlin.
A mixture of injuries and players struggling with form has ensured that Southgate is juggling a number of serious issues.
He will today name a training squad of at least 30 players before reducing it to 26 for the tournament.
England face Bosnia and Herzegovina at Newcastle on June 3 with their second warm-up game against Iceland at Wembley four days later.
Southgate will submit his final squad to Uefa later that evening, with England’s first match of the Euros against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16.
While England, arguably, have more world-class talent than the Golden Generation, it is nonsense to suggest the squad is stronger in terms of depth. In fact, there are a few potentially-damaging weaknesses.
HARRY PAIN
The most recent medical report to arrive on Southgate’s desk concerns captain Harry Kane.
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If there is no Kane, 30, in Germany, there will certainly be no party in London.
Although his back injury is not thought to be too serious, it is hardly ideal timing that Kane missed Bayern Munich’s final two games of the season with an issue which, according to manager Thomas Tuchel, has left the forward in pain each time he has attempted to move.
However, Southgate is unlikely to select both Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney in his final 26.
Toney scored from the penalty spot in England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium in March and was a bright spark in that game.
But following his return from a betting ban, the Brentford forward struggled. He failed to score in any of his final 12 club matches of the season.
Meanwhile, Watkins, 28, goes into the summer on the back of a red-hot, 27-goal season with Aston Villa so at least he is one player who is brimming with confidence.
Southgate will now hope a few of his other players can also rediscover their best form.
Toney fits the Kane role more closely than Watkins, but the 28-year-old Villa man is in hot form. A tough call.
STICKS AND STONES
England’s major concern is in central defence. John Stones, 29, is England’s key player at the back but he has had a rotten season in terms of playing time.
He has suffered a few injury issues and when he has been fit, the centre-back has often found himself on the bench. In Manchester City’s latest title success, Stones started just 12 games.
Defensive partner Harry Maguire, 31, has also suffered another tough season and has only started 18 top-flight games for Manchester United.
Marc Guehi, 23, and Ezri Konsa, 26, could feature but lack Three Lions experience.
This is why Bayern’s Eric Dier, 30, surely gets a recall in Southgate’s long list.
At left-back, Luke Shaw, 28, looks likely to miss out on the Euros due to a thigh injury, while there are also concerns about the form and fitness of Ben Chilwell, 27, who was not involved for Chelsea on Sunday.
As a result, right-back Kieran Trippier, 33, looks certain to start on the left. Even at right-back, Kyle Walker, 33, has not been playing well for City.
MIDDLE MANAGEMENT
Another key issue is who plays next to Declan Rice, 25, in the double pivot of Southgate’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system.
Kalvin Phillips must have become the first England player ever to play his way out of a squad simply by, er, playing.
Phillips, 28, remained in the squad when he was being ignored at City but he was so bad on loan at West Ham that Southgate has been given an easy decision — axe him.
Ajax’s Jordan Henderson, 33, is set to remain a squad player but is unlikely to start so Southgate is likely to continue his experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield.
But frustratingly the Liverpool right-back, 25, has only played in three of the last eight England games due to injury.
Southgate’s other options are to play Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher or Kobbie Mainoo in a deeper role next to Rice.
WING AND A PRAYER
Out wide, and again, some of England’s players have suffered average seasons.
Yes, the likes of Phil Foden and 22-year-old Bukayo Saka have been incredible but City’s Jack Grealish, 28, and 27-year-old Spurs man James Maddison have hardly stood out.
On form alone, Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, 26, should not be picked after a disastrous campaign. But he played well for England in the autumn so is likely to be selected and he does have major tournament experience.
Jarrod Bowen, 27, and 25-year-old Eberechi Eze are competing for one, maybe two, spots.
This is because the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season Cole Palmer, 22, and Anthony Gordon, 23, have both been outstanding for Chelsea and Newcastle respectively and look certain to get the nod.
Much will depend on whether Southgate decides to play Foden, 23, centrally, where he has starred for Pep Guardiola’s champions, or from the right.
Decisions, decisions, Gareth.