Qatar World Cup 2022: England manager Gareth Southgate has questions about the squad
Several of England’s main players at Euro 2020 are now struggling with form or fitness as the FIFA World Cup kicks off on November 20. However, many new faces have appeared since the eventual loss to Italy. They fight for a seat on the plane to Qatar. With just five weeks of matches left in the Premier League until October 19. Gareth Southgate must name his interim England team for the Winter FIFA World Cup before then. Qatar FIFA World Cup fans to buy England Football World Cup Tickets from our website.
That means time is running out for players hoping to get a seat on the plane to Qatar in November to ask the English boss.
The Three Lions relied on a core pool of players to reach the Euro 2020 final 14 months ago, with 10 players starting at least five of the seven English matches.
But some of them are now faced with the question of whether they still deserve a place in the England squad, let alone in the starting lineup. This is for Southgate, given England’s start in less than three months. Not ideal.
Add to that a vast roster of up to 26 players who can be named managers for the Championship, and England’s disappointing performance in recent games in June, and few players can be sure of their entry.
Did ten Hag give Gareth Southgate a squad headache?
The most obvious question Gareth Southgate will face as he draws up his final World Cup plans is what to do with Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw. The Manchester United duo were the key player for England at Euro 2020, with 11 starts between them, and Shaw even scored in the final against Italy.
Those heady summers, however, seem long ago for both players, given their club-level wealth. Maguire and Shaw aren’t the only ones to see their form wane in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s final days, nor are they the only united side not beaten by Ralf Rangnick’s at Old Trafford. Encouraged by interim coaching players.
The arrival of Erik 10 Hag means the warring side could start all over again. But Maguire and Shaw continue to struggle after Manchester United’s losses to Brighton and Brentford in their first two games of the season. A total of 10 games were played. Added minutes in the next four games.
The fact that Ten Hag’s side has won all four games reflects the poor form of the pair, forcing Southgate to make an important decision. Qatar Football World Cup fans to buy England Vs USA Tickets from our website.
The manager’s loyalty to those he trusted was evident in the way. He was in recession (more on that later) for the likes of Maguire, Shaw and Jordan Pickford, but he also kept the Manchester United duo alive at their venue. The starting XI was very tough.
Maguire and Shaw
Maguire has long looked like a player who has lost confidence, and his brief appearance on the bench against Arsenal on Sunday. When he was booked straight away – doesn’t mean he will be back in action anytime soon.
As for Shaw, his critics often use fitness – rightly or wrongly – as the reason for declining performance levels. The left-back performance against Brighton will give these critics more ammunition. As he recorded the second-fewest sprints of a Manchester United outfielder in 90 minutes, and against Brentford. He runs less intensely than everyone else except one of his outfield teammates.
To make matters worse, England is not quite lucky enough to have a left-back option for Southgate alongside Shaw. Kieran Trippier – more naturally a right-back – was used on the left for Euro 2020. While Ben Chilwell is also in the squad but did not play.
Chilwell has continued to bear hard times since that unproductive summer, with a serious knee injury sidelined for most of last season and Marc Cucurella now replacing him in Chelsea’s starting XI.
Besides Chilwell, Tyrick Mitchell is the only left-back with recent international experience.
Form and health blighting midfield regulars
Southgate’s concerns are not limited to his defence. Kalvin Phillips was England’s rising star at Euro 2020, moving to Manchester City this summer. But the former Leeds midfielder has only played one minute of the new season with his new team. Injuries are holding him back, but once he’s ready to return, club-level competition from the likes of Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan could limit Phillips’ involvement. Qatar World Cup 2022 fans can buy England Vs Iran Tickets from our website.
Jordan Henderson is an obvious candidate to replace Phillips. But the Liverpool captain’s tendency to rarely play the full 90 minutes has raised. The question of whether he can be counted on to start regularly in major leagues, such as four every five days.
Gareth Southgate may also be a little disturbed by what he saw from Mason Mount early in the season. The Chelsea midfielder has a habit of quickly establishing himself as his managers’ favourite and Southgate. Who started him five times at Euro 2020, was no exception.
However, having scored 29 goals for Chelsea last season. Mount has not scored or assisted for the Blues this season and was sidelined due to last weekend’s win over West Ham.
Is Pickford’s position safe?
The decision on who will start for England at the World Cup is less of a concern for Southgate than a topic of debate. Jordan Pickford has held the number 1 shirt since the 2018 World Cup. So much so that there have been only 12 appearances between Aaron Ramsdale. Nick Pope and Dean Henderson, and the Everton goalkeeper 45 times.
Gareth Southgate will stay with Pickford even as successive Toffees managers are forced to publicly answer questions about his form.
To be fair, Frank Lampard’s appointment as Everton manager seems to have given Pickford a small turning point. But the fact remains that since the start of last season. He has held and conceded more goals than both Ramsdale and Pope.
With that in mind, England’s goalkeeping situation can be viewed in two ways. No doubt the Three Lions have established themselves as No. 1 in Pickford. Where he has regained his mojo for the World Cup and is backed by Ramsdale, Pope and Henderson, or, so to speak. Everton the goalkeeper’s impressive feat has cast England doubt about the position at the wrong time.
The supporting cast prepared to perform
Given their status as elite young talents of European football, looking back at Reece James, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden at Euro 2020 and seeing them start just three games in the league, this seems odd. FIFA World Cup 2022 fans to buy FIFA World Cup Tickets from our website.
James was England’s third right-back after Trippier and Kyle Walker, and Bellingham secured a spot in midfield after Phillips, Henderson and Declan Rice. While Foden soon lost his starting spot to Bukayo Saka.
Fast forward 14 months and all three look set to make a big difference for England in Qatar. Given James’ performance at Chelsea, it makes sense that he would be England’s starting right-back.
Jude Bellingham
Bellingham appears to have boosted the midfielder’s priorities. After starting four of the country’s last seven games and given his pivotal role in Manchester City’s title win last season. Foden will have to make an impact at Southgate.
The return of Sancho and Marcus Rashford also gave Southgate a timely boost. The pair have only performed in England once since the Euro 2020 final and their battle for Manchester United has failed to propel their careers at the international level.
But Sancho and Rashford have looked fresh under Ten Hag. Which may soften the blow from Maguire and Shaw’s demise under him – and have scored seven goals together in United’s last four games, restoring the World Cup record in time.
A number of players who were not on the Euro 2020 roster will also give Southgate a chance to reflect ahead of the World Cup. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s unique talent should definitely be played at the international level. While Marc Guehi and Fikayo Tomori were well-deserved call-ups to the England Nations League in June. Along with Ben White, who has not played at Euro 2020. Southgate will have other options if he ultimately decides to leave Maguire.
Conor Gallagher
Conor Gallagher has established himself in the manager’s minds thanks to an impressive loan spell at Crystal Palace last season. The midfielder has continued to play in the first team since his return to Chelsea. Ruben Loftus-Cheek also plays regularly for the Blues. The versatile 26-year-old was part of England’s 2018 World Cup squad and could be recalled after four years.
Southgate will also breathe a sigh of relief when it comes to supporting his talisman and captain Harry Kane. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was offered the role at Euro 2020 but was turned down due to injury. So Tammy Abraham has taken up the role in England’s most recent squad. The former Chelsea striker’s impressive goal-scoring record since joining Roma early last season should keep Southgate in mind.
Meanwhile, Ivan Toney has failed to secure a seat for himself on the plane, with Kane being the only player to have scored 17 goals more for England’s players than the Brentford striker in the Premier League since the start of last season.
While England’s lack of certainty just 74 days. The start of their game against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium is far from ideal. No one can argue that Gareth Southgate didn’t choose to make it in Qatar. When he followed the route of the three lions mapped out good luck.
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