June 26th 2024.
Gareth Southgate is facing some major challenges that he needs to address as the England squad prepares for their last-16 match at Euro 2024. Despite topping their group and remaining undefeated, the team's lackluster performance in their recent 0-0 draw with Slovenia has raised concerns. What's more worrying is that Southgate's England has only won two out of their last eight games, a record stretching back to a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia last year.
With a five-day break before their next match, Southgate has some much-needed time to come up with solutions for his disjointed squad. One area he could start with is the central midfield. In their last game, Southgate took a gamble by starting Conor Gallagher, but his early substitution at halftime showed that the manager is still trying to figure out how to ignite England's midfield. While Gallagher's energy and all-around abilities could have been the catalyst for a more dynamic performance, he seemed subdued and only touched the ball 24 times in the first half. His replacement, Kobbie Mainoo, immediately injected some much-needed impetus into the midfield, taking up advanced positions and looking to get on the ball more frequently. Another option for Southgate is Adam Wharton, who could provide some much-needed creativity and set the pace of play as the squad's only natural tempo-setter in midfield.
Meanwhile, Cole Palmer's impressive cameo off the bench has intensified calls for him to start. The 22-year-old, who had a breakthrough season for Chelsea, did not find the winning goal, but his direct style of play and willingness to take on defenders was a small positive on an otherwise disappointing night. Starting him in the next match feels like a logical and necessary change if England hopes to regain some attacking flair. However, Southgate must resist the temptation to make wholesale changes based on external pressures and stick to his calm and measured approach that has characterized his leadership of the national team thus far.
One of the suggestions thrown around after the last game was to start Bukayo Saka at left-back, a position he has rarely played since breaking into the Arsenal first-team. However, this seems like a risky move ahead of crucial knockout matches. Southgate should also ignore the notion that no other international team struggles to fit all their best players into their starting lineup. Many top teams, such as Portugal, Belgium, and Germany, have also made tactical decisions to bench some of their star players. Instead, Southgate should focus on making calculated changes that will benefit the team as a whole, rather than bowing to external pressure.
In the end, it is up to Southgate to decide how he wants to line up his squad for their last-16 match. One obvious change could be Palmer starting in place of Saka, but the manager should avoid making drastic changes. Mainoo could partner with Declan Rice in midfield, but Wharton's composure and intent could be the calculated risk needed to not only move Rice forward but also unlock the potential of England's attacking quartet. It's a delicate balancing act, but Southgate's experience and strategic thinking will be crucial in guiding England to success at Euro 2024.
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