The Road to Qatar Part 2

The World Cup begins in earnest on 21st November, England v Iran, but have the wheels fallen off for England or is it a temporary blip? The clock is ticking and pre the World Cup tournament, England’s form has set the alarm bells ringing, ring, ring. Winless in the last six matches, goals scored four, goals conceded ten, poor stats have resulted in relegation to the bottom rung of the so called perimeter, the Nations League. The consensus is that it makes qualification for the 2024 European Championships more difficult, but is that really the case? That’s for later.

A big plus for England going into the World Cup is the knowledge gained of tournament football, a big requirement, how to manage the tournament. Manager Gareth Southgate has come under a barrage of bric-a-brac, dive for cover. This is Southgate’s first serious dip as the England Manager with the previous years leading to a good success rate, but the football fraternity can have short memories, the classic syndrome, a strong English trait, to stick the boot, where is the support mechanism inside the stadiums, gone missing in action, we can criticise that, the message, lighten up. Should Gareth be free of criticism? Of course not, but there is a need to look at the overall picture, World Cup semi-finalists, Russia 2018 and European Championship finalists, England 2022, that’s the real narrative.

England do need to find their lost mojo and quickly, it can be done. Team England need to be brave, to play expansive with no fear, add the pace and versatility, to solidify, keep the systems and tactics strong, self-belief. The general debates on team selection are of a never ending format, of a strong opinionated nature. Southgate will pick the team to evolve around his own management style and not listen to the pundits sitting in a cosy studio. Onto team selection, the Manero factor.

  1. Jordan Pickford
    Going into the tournament on the back of high class form, a resilient character who has the experience as back up.
  1. Kyle Walker
    Great pace and fortitude who can deliver with the two facets, defending and in attacking movements with quality, needs to tighten up on his defensive positional play n occasions when having to adjust to the opposition’s counter attacks.
  1. Ben Chilwell
    The Manero pick above Luke Shaw. Ben can attack the opposition’s penalty area box lines with abundance. If given the license, fast and pacey with an open gaited style, defensive duties could be better, but still remains the Manero choice.
  1. Eric Dier
    Akin to Pickford has the tournament experience with Dier finding one’s mojo under the Spurs manager Conte. A solid performer if happy with the team surroundings the comfort factor provides the consistency and the required performances.
  1. Conor Coady
    An experienced defender who has a ring of reliability above one’s halo. Reads the opposition’s movements with high level anticipation and cover play, can link into the old sweeper’s role if required. Strong in the air with good ball distribution alongside being a solo tackler.
  1. James Ward-Prowse
    Prowse works the lines with great energy and fitness levels. One of the top performers in the Premiership clocking up the KLM during game time. Good movement and intelligent match play with good pass, link up play, and the added bonus of being the world’s number 1 free kick specialist, that’s according to Pep Guardiola, set pieces are pivotal in providing those match winning opportunities, enter James Ward-Prowse.
  1. Trent Alexander-Arnold
    It is widely accepted that Trent’s defending can go missing in action with the positional play being highlighted which can be instilled to a degree, but it is in the main of a natural vibe, when to step up, when to not, it’s about timing. When to drop the shoulder to assess the opposition’s movement, how to cover the angles to cover from point A to B quickly and efficiently, cut out some of the turf coverage, to hit the markers quickly, the forwards, football parlance speaking. The Football Column has before advocated a right sided midfield position, to suggest Trent can become the world’s best in this position, a midfield hallowed Cafu. The Trent qualities, long range pinpoint passing, a great engine to supplement a strong running ability, strong in the tackle and a big threat with free kicks. Trent has it all, that midfield berth has to be set free, Klopp and Southgate are reluctant.
  1. Declan Rice
    A powerhouse, the world’s best defensive midfield player, reads the game extremely well with an eye for goal. Solidifies the midfield with subline positional movement, a tough physical presence, the all round player. A 100 million price tag is attached, no debate on that one, Rice to deliver the required performances.
  1. Phil Foden
    Foden to play in behind Kane and Grealish, the Manero pick. Can link efficiently with the front two transgressing into the opposition’s defensive areas on attacking possession play, to form a three link forward line in these areas. According to Pep Guardiola, quote “Foden cannot play down the middle, that will come later.” We can agree to disagree, can we Pep? Kevin de Bruyne is blocking that position for Phil, that’s the real narrative. Foden can swing right and left with quick interchanging passing movements. To give Foden the freedom licence, to make a major significant impact at world level, the World Cup.
  1. Harry Kane
    The world’s number 9 supreme leader, England’s talisman, can score goals when all seems lost, angled shots to open up the goal target, subline heading ability, surging runs, great passion. Of the opinion the Jack Grealish could link with Harry to a devastating impact.
  1. Jack Grealish
    The Football Column has been critical of Jack on occasions but there’s no doubting his talent. Jack has the ability to disrupt the opposition threading balls on interchanging passes, winning set pieces. It’s time for Southgate to give Jack his wings, brave hearts, embody the badge, team England.

At the last count it was a 26 man squad.

Goalkeepers – Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale

Defenders – Harry Maguire, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Luke Shaw, James Tarkowski

Midfield – Jamie Henderson, Mason Mount, Jude Bellingham, Connor Gallagher

Forwards – Raheem Stirling, Bukayo Saka, Tammy Abraham, Ivan Toney

FIFA World Cup Qatar (link to article 29.06.2022 The Road to Qatar Part 1)