England manager Gareth Southgate has creative concerns in his side (photo credit: PA – Press Association).
England’s search for a playmaker continues, even with a Swiss victory
By Ryan Conway
England bounced back from a UEFA Nations League defeat at the hands of Spain with narrow, if not slightly frustrating, 1-0 victory over Switzerland at The King Power Stadium.
Leicester City starlets Ben Chilwell and Demarai Gray primed to make their debuts much to the delight of the locals. Chilwell managed 12 minutes and was greeted with chants of “He’s one of our own.” Gray, however, will have to wait.
Gareth Southgate will be encouraged with some of what he observed on Tuesday evening, particularly from the wide positions. Marcus Rashford was on the scoresheet again latching onto a wonderful Kyle Walker cross. Walker’s Tottenham Hotspur teammate Danny Rose was also excellent, constantly looking to get in behind the Swiss defence.
One point of concern could be the perceived lack of threat down the middle. Southgate’s men yet again lacked a conductor through which the rest of the orchestra flows.
Jesse Lingard was introduced on the hour mark and instantly the hosts looked more fluid. The Manchester United winger has developed well in the last two years, seemingly operating as the chief number ten for both club and country. Should the young forward continue his upward trajectory he could become the long-term answer at the position.
Dele Alli has proved to be a masterful creative force at club level but, as has so often been the case with past England players, has failed to replicate it for the national team. Recently the Spurs attacking midfielder has been troubled by small muscular issues but still pulls out reminders of what he is capable of.
For all their endeavour the midfield trio of Eric Dier, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fabian Delph could not unlock the Switzerland defence centrally. It is possible that Loftus-Cheek’s could be chalked down to being starved of minutes at club level, his excellent body of work while on loan at Crystal Palace had long since caught the eye of his national manager, and Chelsea man is adaptable.
Recently England have made the most of set-piece opportunities, however the question must be asked as to when will that reserve start to run dry. England are not bad, merely limited. If England aspire to replicate, or better, their World Cup form in Euro 2020 they will need to have a consistently creative number ten in their ranks.
Players of England’s past have often provided hit and miss performances from the role, with the country still awaiting this generation’s Paul Gascoigne. A direct comparison may not be fair, but no attacking midfield player since has been as imaginative or as game-breaking.
Southgate has options, time and, most importantly, the trust of the fans to keep developing the players and the team. James Maddison has burst onto the Premier League scene with Leicester City. Hopes are high for the summer signing from Norwich City and so far he has logged a single goal and an assist in four starts, all of which he played at least an hour in.
England’s obvious strength is their wide areas, but their ability to change their modus operandi, and have the personnel to achieve that, is so far still a work in progress. The pool of talent Southgate picks from is slowly getting deeper with more technically gifted players. After the highs of the World Cup, however, the past week has provided a stark reminder that there is still work to do.
