JOB done, and in emphatic style, but with few lessons learned.
After the easy streets of another qualification campaign, the hard yards start for Gareth Southgate.
After the easy streets of another qualification campaign, the hard yards start for Gareth SouthgateCredit: Getty – Contributor
Despite England’s staggering total of 33 goals from seven matches, which secured a place at Euro 2020 with a game to spare, are Southgate’s side any closer to tournament success than when they left Russia last year?
Is the defence any stronger or the midfield any less likely to be outclassed by the very best teams?
Cakewalks against Montenegro and Bulgaria tell us little.
Even though he is contracted until 2022, next summer is likely to be Southgate’s second and final stab at glory with England.
He is keen on a return to club management and not inclined to hang around a further 2½ years for the winter World Cup of Qatar.
But, in his restless rush for young blood, will his England be always remembered as a promising side whose time never arrived? Jam tomorrow, never today.
If the Euros are to bring even relative success, Southgate will have to rewrite history again.
The Three Lions’ record in this competition is lamentable — a tale of Swedes 2 Turnips 1, humiliation by Iceland and a few penalty shootout defeats in between.
They have never won a single European Championship knockout match on foreign soil.
Even though he is contracted until 2022, next summer is likely to be Southgate’s second and final stab at glory with EnglandCredit: PA:Press Association
And, in this weird pan-European tournament next year, Southgate’s men would need to win two such matches overseas to reach the semi-finals and final, which will be staged at Wembley.
England’s team for their group opener at Wembley on June 14 is likely to be young and relatively inexperienced.
The pace of change has been rapid. Only four of Southgate’s youthful World Cup starting XI faced Montenegro on Thursday night — although Jordan Henderson was banned and Raheem Sterling axed for his canteen fracas with Joe Gomez.
Kyle Walker and Jesse Lingard have been jettisoned — perhaps for good, and with a cold ruthlessness few expected of Southgate before he took up post.
Dele Alli has not touched peak form for too long. And Kieran Trippier, despite his excellent form for Atletico Madrid, will struggle to regain his starting berth.
Of those to emerge since Russia, the dynamic young full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ben Chilwell are nailing down starting places, despite stiff opposition.
They will provide the width and, hopefully, several assists — allowing Sterling and another forward to drift more centrally.
Yet Declan Rice and Jadon Sancho are already suffering blips, as happens with virtually all such prodigies.
Chelsea contingent of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Fikayo Tomori are the coming men nowCredit: PA:Press Association
The fresh-faced Chelsea contingent of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Fikayo Tomori are the coming men now.
But form can fluctuate and fitness can be fragile during the 4½ months between tomorrow’s dead rubber here in Kosovo and the warm-up friendlies in March and May.
Harry Kane’s goals and Sterling’s confidence — acquired at international level only since Russia — provide England’s great hopes.
Midfield is, as usual, the chief concern for Southgate. Can Rice regain peak form in the holding role? Can the gifted Harry Winks influence the biggest games?
Can Henderson be as influential as he is with Liverpool? Or will he flounder again, as when he was outnumbered in the World Cup semi-final defeat by Croatia?
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was the future once, could yet re-establish himself as an England starter after such a cruel record of injuries.
In the more advanced midfield role, options are plentiful with Dele, Mount, Ross Barkley, James Maddison and perhaps Jack Grealish. Which of these can seize a position clearly up for grabs?
Despite the paucity of their qualifying group, England have emerged from a remarkably tumultuous autumn — one which would not have been predicted after they began their campaign with ten goals against the Czech Republic and Montenegro last spring.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was the future once, could yet re-establish himself as an England starterCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Southgate has been bombarded with problems on and off the field these past couple of months.
First, the bipolar performance in the 5-3 victory against Kosovo at Southampton, where his team were inspired in attack but chaotic in defence.
Then the worrying no-show against the Czechs in Prague, where England lost their proud ten-year unbeaten record in qualifying matches.
Since then, they have scored 13 goals in two games.
Yet the 6-0 rout of Bulgaria in Sofia was scarred by the most concerted racist abuse ever aimed at an England side, with the players close to walking off in protest.
Gareth Southgate will make changes for Kosovo game
Then, before Thursday’s 7-0 humping of Montenegro, the moment of madness which saw Sterling’s halo slip and cost him an appearance in the national team’s 1,000th match.
You can usually expect the unexpected with England.
And thanks to the erratic nature of Southgate’s youth policy, no one truly knows what to expect next summer.
Thanks to the erratic nature of Southgate’s youth policy, no one truly knows what to expect next summerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
