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      England squad’s five winners and losers from final games before World Cup as stars fight it out for ticket to Qatar 2022

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      ENGLAND’S stars had their final chance to make a positive impression in the matches against Italy and Germany. The Italy game saw the Three Lions crash to a third defeat in five games and saw them relegated from their Nations League group.
      England stars had their final chance to shine before the World Cup stars in NovemberCredit: Getty
      Gareth Southgate endured two more winless games but now has the final impression of his squad before the World CupCredit: PA
      Meanwhile, the 3-3 draw against Germany finally got England back to scoring ways, but showed off some glaring weaknesses in the squad.
      Below we set out the big winners and losers from the internationals ahead of the World Cup in just under two months time.
      WINNERS
      The first big winner from the two games was Bukayo Saka.
      Saka proved once again why he should be starting for England at right wing, with a superb display against Germany which almost single-handedly ended Southgate’s winless run.
      Mason Mount was the next big winner, particularly after scoring against Germany.
      His own cameo off the bench saw him breathe life into the team’s display, and his pairing with Saka showcased why they are two of England’s brightest stars.
      Bukayo Saka, front, and Mason Mount, rear, shone brightly for England against GermanyCredit: Reuters
      Jude Belllingham also added his own class to the midfield alongside Declan Rice, showing Southgate he can rely on this partnership going forward.
      The Borussia Dortmund star run the show, and should have almost certainly compounded Kalvin Phillips to a position on the bench going forward.
      In defence, Eric Dier looked comfortable and composed compared to those around him as he starred in both games.
      Dier was one of the stars of the last World Cup, and he has done everything possible to try and recapture his England spot after his most recent displays.
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      James Maddison is the final winner from these games, with his continued omission from the England setup continuing to baffle considering the lack of creativity shown at times.
      The Leicester stars creative qualities could shine within this England team, and when the likes of Phil Foden or Raheem Sterling fail to supply the goods, Maddison would be a perfect player to step in.
      LOSERS
      Moving on to the big losers, we will start at the back of the team in Nick Pope.
      Were it not for his error at the end of the game England would have beat Germany, and therefore in his chance to prove his credentials as England’s number one he has instead given more wriggle room to Jordan Pickford.
      In front of him Harry Maguire’s club form looks to have caught up to him at international level.
      He gave away the penalty for Germany’s opener and the trust Southgate has in him must be starting to erode, which consequently means his World Cup spot is growing more perilous by the day.
      Harry Maguire’s position in the England set up is looking more and more perilous by the dayCredit: Rex
      The stellar performances of the aforementioned Bellingham have likely compounded Phillips to a place on the bench despite his strong displays during the last Euros.
      Phillips will now need a monumental effort to usurp his compatriot from the position as Rice’s midfield partner, making him one of the biggest losers from the last two games.
      In a similar fashion, the strong performance of Saka in the attack will see Foden’s place put under significant threat.
      The 22-year-old’s only goals for England came against Iceland in 2020, and with continuously average displays it is difficult to see him now starting when the World Cup rolls around due to the impression Saka has left.
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      The most disappointed star from these games will no doubt be Ivan Toney, who was enjoying his first experience in the England squad after a strong start to the season for Brentford.
      Toney made the squad for Germany but failed to come on as he wasn’t allowed to prove himself. His only hope now is his impressive club form continues and that he left a good impression in training. More

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      Gareth Southgate’s loyalty to his favourite England players now tested like never before

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      ENGLAND desperately needed something to light the fires of hope from their last match before the World Cup.With the Three Lions having gone over 450 minutes without a goal from open play and suffered the indignity of Nations League relegation, Gareth Southgate’s critics were louder than ever ahead of Germany’s visit to Wembley.
      And the howls of derision grew louder as Hansi Flick’s side, who have not been in the best form themselves this year, went 2-0 up in the 67th minute.
      But then England’s spark did arrive in the form of three goals in 12 minutes, a swarm of untethered football with an intent rarely seen in recent fixtures.
      First the wing-backs combined as Reece James assisted Luke Shaw, then the substitutes linked with the lively Bukayo Saka setting up Mason Mount’s sweet first-time strike.
      The hosts’ third goal came from the penalty spot and the inevitable right boot of Harry Kane, whose record of 51 goals in 75 games puts him among the most prolific goalscorers in international football.
      Optimistic England fans will be clinging onto the 12-minute salvo at Wembley for hope
      This injection of optimism, plunged into the heart of England fans like Mia Wallace’s adrenaline shot in Pulp Fiction, was countered by Kai Havertz’s opportunistic poke to make it 3-3.
      Still, the 12-minute blitz served as a reminder that so many of England’s attacking players are potential match-winners – it also ensured the Lightning Seeds, David Baddiel and Frank Skinner would receive their full allotment of royalties come winter.
      Southgate deserves credit for his substitutions on the night as the introduction of Mount and Saka undoubtedly added impetus but many supporters saw the three-goal surge as an example of what can be achieved when the team breaks free of the shackles imposed by the coach’s risk-adverse approach.
      “Set this team free Gareth” was the call from Ian Wright on Twitter, a sentiment echoed by Gary Lineker and swathes of fans up and down the country.
      Supporters were generally happy to tolerate defensive, structured tactics when results were positive – let’s not forget a double pivot of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips came within a couple of penalties of anchoring England’s first major trophy since 1966.
      However, patience has evaporated rapidly with England now without a win in six, disastrous preparation for a World Cup.
      Southgate has been loyal to Maguire but sometimes change is needed
      Throughout the Nations League campaign, England’s passing has been ponderous and their movement snail-slow.
      Fatigue may be a factor but many players from other nations have endured similarly demanding workloads in the last year.
      There’s no escaping the awkward fact that some individuals have looked a pale imitation of themselves on the international stage, Phil Foden being the most prominent example.
      The 22-year-old is yet to truly light up an England game in the same manner he has done for Man City multiple times since establishing himself as a first team regular.
      He already has three goals and two assists at club level this term but against Italy and Germany he looked as if he could play for hours without a substantial flourish in the final third.
      The overriding feeling is that Saka, recently voted England’s Player of the Year, is the superior option to start on the right wing (not left wing-back) against Iran come November 21st.
      Foden has been unable to translate his club form to the international stage
      Southgate’s biggest headache stems from centre-back where his loyalty to one of his favourite players will now be tested like never before.
      Let’s be clear, Harry Maguire has generally performed very well for England, even when his club form has been comical.
      That being said, last night’s second half was a horror show.
      The Man United defender gave the ball away just prior to his foul on Jamal Musiala in the box, a stonewall penalty eventually awarded upon VAR review.
      And it was Maguire who was initially dispossessed in the build-up to Die Mannschaft’s second goal after a frustratingly hesitant dribble deep in German territory.
      Southgate has remained loyal to Maguire on the basis that his performances for England have been significantly better than those witnessed at Old Trafford in recent times but last night’s error-strewn showing underlined the fear that many fans have, that his mistakes will directly lead to elimination at a major tournament.
      With John Stones departing prematurely with what looked like a hamstring injury, centre-back is now a huge area of concern for the Three Lions, which makes it even more curious that Fikayo Tomori, who has been consistently excellent for reigning Serie A champions AC Milan, wasn’t given a single minute to prove his worth this international break.
      Eric Dier’s penalty-box defending should have earned him a seat on the plane to Qatar but Southgate’s comments around the matter suggests Maguire will start once the tournament is underway, a significant risk.
      Maguire was at fault for two of Germany’s goals last night
      Despite being absent through injury, last night was a reassuring one for Jordan Pickford, one of Southgate’s other favourites, as Nick Pope looked uncertain playing out from the back before dropping a clanger for Germany’s late equaliser.
      Like Maguire, the Everton goalkeeper has generally played very well for England even when he’s simultaneously looked vulnerable at club level, particularly in major tournaments.
      Given that Pickford started the season in great form for the Toffees before he was sidelined, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be No1 in Qatar.
      Phillips has also been something of a teacher’s pet under Southgate and another player who justified his repeated selection with an impressive Euro 2020 campaign.
      However, the development of Jude Bellingham, who was named Player of the Match against Germany, means it will be extremely difficult for the Man City midfielder to reclaim his place, especially with injury concerns and reduced game time at club level having switched Elland Road for the Etihad in the summer.
      Surely Bellingham is a guaranteed starter? The 19-year-old already looks nailed on for 100 caps.
      Bellingham looks set to be a key player for England for years to come
      The overriding question Southgate will have to answer is whether, at this late juncture, it’s best to move away from the pragmatic approach that has undeniably improved England’s fortunes in recent years?
      Should he ditch his most-trusted lieutenants and let England off the leash or should he keep trying to grind his way to glory?
      Much of what Southgate has implemented should be maintained, most importantly the drastically improved sense of camaraderie, something the Golden Generation of 2002 – 2006 critically lacked according to the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard.
      But the 52-year-old’s reluctance to compromise some of his tactical beliefs may prove fatal.
      To abandon one approach in favour of another and implement the change during the first game of a World Cup feels extremely rash – it would mean binning years of preparation and training ground rehearsals.
      However, if England fail in Qatar playing cautious football and are undone by errors from out-of-form players who perhaps shouldn’t even be in the squad, then it will be a massive opportunity squandered, one that would probably cost Southgate his job.
      What might sway the once-beloved gaffer’s mind is the feeling that most right-minded fans wouldn’t mind if England were eliminated in the knockout stages so long as the team was picked on merit and the structure allowed the attacking players freedom to express themselves.
      No reasonable Englishman expects World Cup glory, but to fade out of one with a whimper is inexcusable.

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      Harry Maguire spotted limping after England’s Nations League draw with Germany in injury blow to Man Utd

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      HARRY MAGUIRE was spotted limping out of Wembley Stadium last night in a potential injury blow for Manchester United.The defender endured another evening to forget, his mistakes leading to Germany’s first two goals during England’s epic 3-3 draw.
      🚩Maguire se marcha cojeando de Wembley… (Southgate ha dicho que era un problema de isquiotibiales)Maguire limps off from Wembley… (Southgate has said he had a hamstring problem)@diarioas pic.twitter.com/7jSPymuMVE— Guillermo Rai (@GuillerRai) September 26, 2022

      Harry Maguire endured a night to forget for the Three LionsCredit: Reuters
      Maguire, 29, has received huge criticism for his latest performance, and may have added injury to insult along the way.
      In footage shot by reporter Guillermo Rai, the Man United skipper could be seen walking with a clear limp as he made his way through the mixed zone with an apparent hamstring issue.
      On his team-mate, England captain Harry Kane said: “Individual mistake, you’re going to be gutted.
      “But we’re a team, we get behind each other. They learn from it, they move on, they’ve been great for us every time they’ve put an England shirt on.
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      “H had a pretty decent injury there at the end and he played another five or ten minutes on almost one leg, great character from him, really proud of him for that.”
      He has been out of the Red Devils side of late, but an injury would still present boss Erik ten Hag with an unwanted headache amid such a busy run of fixtures to come.
      United will play NINE matches in October, and Ten Hag will surely have to lean on his squad.
      Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane are currently the Red Devils’ first choice duo, while Victor Lindelof also remains in the mix.
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      After last night’s match, Maguire took to Instagram to apologise for his gaffes.
      He wrote: “Mistakes are part of the game, I apologise.
      “Great fight back and spirit to get us back into the game by the lads.
      “Take the positives and look forward to Qatar. The tough times will make us stronger.”
      Despite Maguire’s difficult evening, Gareth Southgate again vowed to keep faith with his defender.
      The 52-year-old said: “I know everybody will focus on Harry Maguire. That is always going to raise debate.
      “In these moments, we have to back our best and most experienced players unless we are in a situation where it is almost untenable and impossible to pick them.
      “I have to accept there will be huge amounts of noise around individual selections but if I am going to be wishy-washy and change my mind, then it is pointless of me doing it.”
      Maguire’s Man United team-mate Luke Shaw, who got on the scoresheet last night, added: “I will be honest, it is a tough period at the moment.
      “Of course Harry is an amazing player, an amazing character. He has taken a lot of stick, probably more than I have ever seen before in football but he never hides away, he is always there.
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      “You can have people that can hide away and not want to be in the spotlight but he keeps putting himself in the spotlight and it shows the strength and character he has got because, come on, everyone knows that he is an unbelievable player.”
      Shaw then continued: “At the moment the confidence might not be there because it might feel like the whole world is against him, it is tough for him but us as players, staff we are all behind him because he is a very important player and it shows Gareth’s trust that he has played in both games.” More

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      Fuming Joshua Kimmich slams Germany’s ‘inexplicable’ collapse against England who ‘didn’t want to play’

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      JOSHUA KIMMICH has slammed Germany’s “inexplicable” collapse against England – before laying into the Three Lions’ style of play.The Bayern Munich star was in action as England and Germany played out an epic 3-3 draw at Wembley Stadium last night.
      Joshua Kimmich played the full 90 minutes as Germany drew 3-3 with EnglandCredit: Getty
      Both sides went into the match having endured disappointing Uefa Nations League campaigns.
      Germany raced into a two-goal lead in the second-half via Ilkay Gundogan’s penalty and a brilliant curling strike by Kai Havertz.
      But Hansi Flick’s men conceded three times in a bonkers 12-minute period to surrender their lead and inject new life into the Wembley crowd.
      Havertz profited on a Nick Pope mistake to salvage a draw for Germany, but that scarcely improved the mood of Bayern stalwart Kimmich.
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      The 27-year-old, who played the full 90 minutes of the match, didn’t hold back after.
      He said: “We had the game under control and were 2-0 up.
      “England just played on the counter-attack. After the 2-0 we become too passive and weren’t brave enough against the ball.
      “It’s actually inexplicable because England didn’t really want to play.”
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      He then added: “That shouldn’t happen in the second half, because we completely gave the game away.
      “Each of us players now has six weeks to get a good feeling. And then we will go all-out for the World Cup.”
      Germany have been drawn in Group E in Qatar, and will take on Japan, Spain and Costa Rica when they travel to the Middle East in November.
      Prior to last night’s match, England boss Gareth Southgate cast an envious eye at Kimmich.
      He said: “Joshua Kimmich is fundamental to the team and the way they play. He organises the game for them and he reads it so well.
      “We don’t have that sort of player in this country, I don’t think we develop that sort of player well through youth football and through academies. Other countries probably have a little bit more focus on that.
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      “We have talked about the passing of Trent [Alexander-Arnold] – that’s why we gave him a go in midfield. That got completely lambasted.
      “If you are not doing that every day for your club in certain positions, it is very difficult to transfer that on to an international stage.” More

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      Fans spot something bizarre about Harry Kane’s England kit during Germany draw leaving them baffled

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      EAGLE-EYED England fans were left baffled by Harry Kane’s kit in yesterday’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Germany.Skipper Kane scored from the spot to put the Three Lions 3-2 up, only for Chelsea ace Kai Havertz to equalise just minutes later.
      Harry Kane appeared to wear a regular No9 on his shorts, and an upside down No6 on the front of his shirtCredit: Getty
      Kane wore his trademark No9 on the back of his shirtCredit: EPA
      His front shirt number appeared to be an upside down version of Harry Maguire’s No6Credit: Reuters
      But it was Kane’s kit, rather than his emphatic penalty, that caught the eye of fans.
      The England captain sported his trademark No9 on the back of his shirt, as well as on his shorts.
      Yet the front of his away shirt, mysteriously worn at home, appeared to have an upside down No6 printed on it.
      His front shirt number looked suspiciously similar to an upside down version of Harry Maguire’s digit.
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      And fans were quick to chime in as they watched the drama unfold in England’s last game before the World Cup.
      One wrote: “Harry Pain.”
      While another joked: “[It’s] because he’s a false nine.”
      Maguire wore two regular No6’s on the front of his shirt and shorts, suggesting Kane’s upside down No6 could have been a printing error.
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      Kane’s bizarre kit wasn’t the only shirt related drama last night.
      Gareth Southgate’s side sported funky fonts on the back of their shirts, with their names all in capitals, except from the letter “i”.
      And it didn’t go down particularly well with fans online.
      One wrote: “I’m quite angry about the font on the England shirts.”
      Another said: “It’s just been brought to my attention that the font on the back of England’s shirts uses all capital letters, except for a lower case ‘i’, and now I can’t see ANYTHING ELSE.”
      While a third quipped: “Petition to get rid of that awful font on the England kit and replace it with Comic Sans.”
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      While Kane’s kit could have been an error, the eye-catching fonts were in fact purposely designed in that way.
      An England statement when the new kits were released said: “Just like the home kit, the typeface used on the name and number takes inspiration from angular, industrial fonts used by English heavy metal rock bands.” More

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      Harry Maguire apologises for England ‘mistakes’ but Gareth Southgate vows to play him until it’s ‘untenable’

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      HARRY MAGUIRE has apologised for England “mistakes” after his latest gaffes last night.But Gareth Southgate has vowed to stick with the error-prone defender until his position in the team becomes “untenable”.
      Gareth Southgate backed Harry Maguire once againCredit: Reuters
      After the chaotic 3-3 draw, in which Maguire was at fault for Germany’s first two goals, the Manchester United ace took to Instagram to own up to his mistakes.
      He wrote: “Mistakes are part of the game, I apologise.
      “Great fight back and spirit to get us back into the game by the lads .
      “Take the positives and look forward to Qatar. The tough times will make us stronger.”
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      Southgate, 52, revealed players had clear-the-air talks behind closed doors before their rousing Nations League comeback against Germany at Wembley.
      Three goals in 12 minutes from Luke Shaw, Mason Mount and Harry Kane put the Three Lions 3-2 up, before a late howler by Nick Pope cost them victory.
      Defender Maguire made mistakes for the visitors’ first two strikes, including bringing down Jamal Musiala for a penalty after the break.
      England now head to the winter World Cup in Qatar on a competitive six-game winless run — the worst in their history.
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      Southgate said: “I know everybody will focus on Harry Maguire. That is always going to raise debate.
      “In these moments, we have to back our best and most experienced players unless we are in a situation where it is almost untenable and impossible to pick them.
      “I have to accept there will be huge amounts of noise around individual selections but if I am going to be wishy-washy and change my mind, then it is pointless of me doing it.”
      Defender Reece James backed Maguire and Pope. He said: “When you are playing and make a mistake you are experienced enough to know you made a mistake, so you don’t need to be told.
      “Harry has not been playing too much this season. He has been finding his rhythm, we know the quality he has.
      This is just a bump in the road and going into the World Cup when we arrive we will be ready to playReece James
      “It is a little slip-up and I am sure they will bounce back and be stronger.
      “This is just a bump in the road and going into the World Cup when we arrive we will be ready to play.”
      Maguire was also backed by his United team-mate Luke Shaw, who said: “I will be honest, it is a tough period at the moment.
      “Of course Harry is an amazing player, an amazing character. He has taken a lot of stick, probably more than I have ever seen before in football but he never hides away, he is always there.
      “You can have people that can hide away and not want to be in the spotlight but he keeps putting himself in the spotlight and it shows the strength and character he has got because, come on, everyone knows that he is an unbelievable player.”
      Shaw then added: “At the moment the confidence might not be there because it might feel like the whole world is against him, it is tough for him but us as players, staff we are all behind him because he is a very important player and it shows Gareth’s trust that he has played in both games.”
      Goals from Ilkay Gundogan from the spot and Kai Havertz’s curler put Germany ahead before Shaw — England’s first in open play for 521 minutes —  and sub Mount replied.
      Kane converted from the spot in the 83rd minute thanks to a VAR check after Nico Schlotterbeck’s foul on Jude Bellingham.
      Skipper Kane is now two goals off Wayne Rooney’s England goalscoring record of 53.
      The striker, who admitted the errors cost the Three Lions dear, said: “The fight and mentality in the team was shown out there.
      “The boys have been under pressure. We all have with the recent results and we all came out here today with a point to prove. This will put us in a positive mindset.”
      Kane was part of the senior group who approached Southgate to organise a heart-to-heart talk with the players after losing to Italy 1-0 in Milan on Friday.
      ‘WE BELIEVE IN WHAT WE’RE DOING’
      Southgate explained: “Some of the more senior players have been outstanding.
      “They asked for a meeting on their own to talk things through. For me that was such a positive sign. The best football teams have a real core of players that drive things.
      “To have the right sort of messages filtering through to the group to keep people on track is crucial. We need to stay calm.
      “We have been through times like this before but they are all learning together. The message is we must stick to what we do.
      “You will have pressure in a World Cup. It may be in a group game or in a quarter-final. It is better we feel it and learn how to feel about it.
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      “We have to improve but we weren’t going to rip things up overnight. We believe in what we are doing, whether people agree or not. The players took that on board.
      “You can talk about spirit when things  are going well but the true test is through adversity.”
      Maguire, 29, endured another frustrating nightCredit: Reuters More

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      Harry Kane says fans finally saw the ‘real England’ as skipper insists Three Lions in ‘good place’ ahead of World Cup

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      HARRY KANE believes fans got to see the “real England” after their fightback against Germany.The out-of-form Three Lions went into their final Nations League game on a miserable run of form.
      Harry Kane says fans saw the ‘real England’ against GermanyCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      And even though they now head into the World Cup on a six-match winless run, the skipper is adamant that England showed they were on the rise again after the rollercoaster 3-3 draw with Germany.
      Goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Kai Havertz silenced Wembley at the start of the second half as the visitors took a two-goal lead.
      However, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount got England back on level terms before Kane scored a penalty to put his country ahead.
      But there was late agony in store after Nick Pope fumbled a shot in the 87th-minute which allowed Havertz to slot home an equaliser.
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      Afterwards, Kane told BBC Radio 5 Live: “First and foremost, I’m proud of the boys for the way we dug in. 
      “We felt so unfortunate to go two goals behind. Obviously, a mistake [for the first goal] and a great shot from the edge of the box. But you saw the determination, passion and desire to wear this England shirt after that.
      “We dug deep and the boys who came on made a really good impact and did really well to get back into the game.
      “They were clinical which we haven’t been and to be honest, in the whole game we could have scored more if we were better in the first half. But there’s no time to celebrate.
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      “I thought we showed good signs today and we can have positive feelings going into the World Cup.”
      Kane added: “It shows the character of the squad and in the summer, we had a similar situation and ended up going the other way.
      “It was a terrible night for us as players and obviously the England national team.
      “Going from 2-0 down against Germany and showing what we did, we can be proud of. The fans were electric as soon as we got the first goal and you can just feel them at the edge of their seats and the eruption when the penalty went in was a great feeling.
      “We are not getting carried away and know we have stuff to improve. The boys keep their heads up, tried to play out and Pope saves it nine times out of ten.
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      “He’s been fantastic for us every time he’s wore the England shirt – he can keep his head up.
      “I think you saw the real England in the last half hour.” More

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      ‘It’s coming home!’ – England fans can’t wait for World Cup as Three Lions FINALLY score from open play after NINE HOURS

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      BUOYANT England fans are finally looking forward to the World Cup and declared “it’s coming home” – after their side ended their NINE-HOUR wait for a goal from open play.Supporters were growing frustrated and pressure was mounting on Gareth Southgate as the Three Lions faced Germany in their final Nations League match.
      Luke Shaw ended England’s long goal drought by firing home against GermanyCredit: AFP
      Mason Mount whipped in a superb finish to equalise three minutes laterCredit: Getty
      And the last game before the World Cup looked to be going horribly wrong as the away side took a 2-0 lead at Wembley.
      But at long last, England eventually got the ball over the line from open play for the first time since March 29 – a 3-0 win over Ivory Coast.
      Their only goal in the five matches since was Harry Kane’s penalty away in Germany in June.
      However, the all-important finish came from an unlikely source as Luke Shaw bundled in.
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      The ball did not even hit the net as it was cleared just after rolling over the line – not that the home fans cared as the game spun on its head.
      Three minutes later, sub Mason Mount struck beautifully into the corner to make it 2-2 and send Wembley into ecstasy.
      And after 72 shots bringing up just one penalty goal heading into tonight’s game, England then scored a third in a row as Kane converted a penalty awarded after a VAR check.
      Even Nick Pope’s blunder allowing Kai Havertz a late equaliser could not dampen supporters’ spirits as they lauded England finding their shooting boots again ahead of their opener in Qatar against Iran on November 21.
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      Despite England failing to win any of their last six matches, one said: “It’s coming home, we’re going to win the World Cup.”
      Another wrote: “Bring on Iran, USA and Wales – it’s coming home.”
      A third added: “Glad to see England scoring from open play after such a long time. Right time to click in indeed!”
      And a fourth said: “England is ready for the World Cup. It’s okay.” More