Gareth Southgate has made a bold move by ruling out Jordan Henderson. Photo: Karl Resin/Reuters
Wayne Rooney, Joe Hart, Raheem Sterling and now Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford will testify to Gareth Southgate's ruthless edge. But it has always been like this. People simply didn't pay attention. The England head coach abandoned them all, ending the international careers of the first two and possibly the next two.
“I know people always said we had favourites, but in reality we had players who we knew were the best in their position and could perform at a high level. But circumstances are changing,” Southgate said after several big announcements (and a couple of perceived favourites) as he announced his provisional 33-man squad for the European Championships.
«Look, we've had to evolve,» Southgate said. “Wayne and Joe Hart embraced it brilliantly at the time. We needed to make room so other people could pass. The job is about making difficult decisions at specific times. You can't shy away from this. I don't think ever. These are difficult conversations, but you have them as respectfully as you can.
“But that's why we have younger players now with more experience, and we have to continue… so yes, you are looking for «When come the right moments? “Is this a fair decision?” “Is what we lose more harmful than what we gain?”
However, it is surprising that neither Rashford nor Henderson were included in the extended list, which will be cut to 26 on June 7 before England fly to Germany three days later, and then came Southgate's telling remark as he explained his choice: “It gives a different dynamic to training and competing for places. This prevents complacency within the group.”
Complacency? It was an interesting word for Southgate to use in the context of a team widely seen as one of the tournament favourites, but which is actually going through something of a crisis, with major injuries and key players struggling.
However, it would have been a 'safe' option — something Southgate has been wrongly accused of in the past — to still go for Rashford and Henderson, especially when he was putting together a bigger squad.
Marcus Rashford faces a fight to return to the England team. Photo: Marco Djurica/Reuters
So it certainly bodes well that he took such a hard-nosed approach (he bristled when asked if he was being «cruel»), choosing a number of players because they were England's best players for their clubs during this campaign . . Many England managers, including Southgate, have previously been accused of not choosing their kit because the squad was too established. So it wasn't Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen or Cole Palmer in this team, but all three — now not at least, but possibly for Germany — at the expense of Rashford. Given their dip in form, this approach must have left Jack Grealish and James Maddison sweating.
“We think we'll be able to see who the best players have been this season and we'll need players to come into the game at a really high level, which could be hugely important for us,” Southgate said. “We have always tried to find a place for new players.”
Interestingly, Julian Nagelsmann, the German coach, took a similar approach by naming his provisional squad of 27 men. It left stalwarts Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry and Mats Hummels, and brought in players from a team in good form — Bayer Leverkusen (with three), the unbeaten champions and runners-up Stuttgart (with five). .
For England, the selection of Southgate should be a refreshing one, even if it poses an unexpected problem, because, despite the manager's claims, suddenly there could be a potentially inexperienced team that has an eye on the future, although action needs to be taken here and now.
For example, of the 33 survivors, only 15 of the 26 who attended the last World Cup remain, and that was only 18 months ago. And only 16 of the 33 have made more than 10 caps, with Harry Maguire third in scoring with seven goals. The absence of Rashford and Sterling means two players lack experience of nine major tournaments.
“Yes, you want players to be playing regularly, fully fit, with plenty of appearances and winning experience, but that doesn’t dictate everything,” Southgate argues. “We have to select the players who we think are the best at the moment to take the team forward. We think the Gordons and Bowens have had brilliant seasons. We liked the hunger they came with in March.»
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The reality is that Adam Wharton, James Trafford, Jarrad Branthwaite, Jarel Quansah and Curtis Jones — all uncapped — probably won't make the list. Not this time. But they have a chance, not least because Southgate spends most of his money preparing medical news for the players he wants to select.
“We think some of these guys will be English. future internationals, some may not be, but they will all benefit from this experience,” Southgate said. «And they're all in the squad because they've had good seasons, they're playing well and they're contenders for a place in the team.»
There's a danger in that — and one that Southgate should absolutely avoid — suggesting that this will be the team of the future, a team with potential, even if it is starting to look a little like it. At least until that number is reduced to 26. Then we will have a clearer picture.
Given the strength that England has, and despite the problems, ultimately it must be about euro and about immediate tasks. But Southgate did not stand on ceremony. He didn't play it safe. And this bodes well for good results.
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