Marcus RashfordHas not kicked any ball. EnglandSince that fateful penalty shootout during the European Championship final Italy last July. Jadon Sanchoonly once. And after being left out of Gareth Southgate’s latest squad today (Thursday), the Manchester UnitedDuo are running out time to get into his World Cup plans.
Both have contributed to United’s upturn over recent weeks, as they recovered from a difficult start to manager Erik ten Hag’s tenure, but it was not enough to earn a recall for this month’s Nations League meetings with Italy and Germany — England’s last two games before their World Cup opener against IranOn November 21,
Rashford tweeted after the announcement that he was not actually available for England duty this time “as I’ve picked up an untimely injury”, having missed United’s opening two Europa LeagueLast week’s matches against Real Sociedad and tonight against FC Sheriff. However, this does not alter the fact that Southgate selected his squad believing Rashford would be able to play.
Ivan ToneyHe was preferred after a strong start to the season. Brentford.
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Southgate is a loyal manager — he has shown that once more by retaining Harry Maguire, whose travails at United have continued into the new campaign — but once a player has lost his favour, it is not always easy to win it back.
Ask! Eric DierThe recall was a victory for Corey, who said he couldn’t have done more to win the last season. He considered it his best season. Tottenham Hotspur. After an 18-month absence, and four more since his last cap, he is finally back.
It is now a 28-strong squad with the World Cup just two months away. This raises an old question: How can a manager claim to choose players based on their form? Luke ShawHe is now out of contract under Ten Hag, and has not played since being hooked at the Brentford half-time embarrassment last month. Kalvin PhillipsAfter his summer move, he has only played 15 minutes of football. Leeds UnitedTo Manchester City) while, say, Maximilian Kilman, in excellent form for Wolverhampton Wanderers, misses out?
Southgate has tended to show loyalty to players who have performed well for him but Sancho and Rashford have work to do if they are to make the World Cup squad (Photo: Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
The simple answer is yes.
In Maguire’s case, while his United form has been a concern, he has been an integral part of this England team for five years and has been one of their most impressive, consistent performers over that time. Phillips could have similar results over a shorter time.
While form at club level is important it is also important that the manager does not abandon players who have won his loyalty for the long-term.
“This is a bigger than normal squad and part of the rationale is that we are very close to a World Cup and we feel, although our results were disappointing in the summer, we have picked on the basis of form and capability over a long period,” Southgate said, looking ahead to the games at San Siro in Milan next Friday and at Wembley three days later.
“There were certain players we wanted to keep involved this time, but that (…) doesn’t mean this is the end for some of the others who aren’t involved. Marcus Rashford is one example of a player who has been showing encouraging signs. We are familiar with him and will consider him for consideration if he is able to perform at a high level over the next few weeks.
“Clearly we have a number of players, including Ben Chilwell, Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Kalvin Phillips, who are not playing a lot of minutes with their club, but we feel they have been — and can be — important players for us. It’s not a perfect situation, but there’s still a lot of football to be played before Qatar.”
This is true, considering how congestion. Premier LeagueThe European fixture schedules will be in effect between the resumption and end of European football in October after this international break, and mid-November when Southgate and his team depart for Qatar.
However, the performance and conduct of players during these Nations League games can make or break their World Cup chances. For Toney, a strong performance against Germany or Italy could guarantee his spot in the squad. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ollie Watkins, Patrick BamfordAnd Callum Wilson. But he must seize this opportunity.
Either way, Toney’s inclusion is a fitting reward for his form at Brentford: 12 Premier League goals last season in the club’s first ever Premier League campaign, five in six appearances already in this one. “We’ve been tracking him for a long time,” Southgate said. “I had a good chat with (Brentford head coach) Thomas Frank about him last season. His form and his qualities — not only his goalscoring but his technical ability, build-up play and aerial prowess — give us a different threat to some of the other players we could pick.”
🐝 @IvanToney24This is the first #BrentfordFCEngland to call up player since May 1939
Ivan and the Club celebrate a historic day❤🤍 pic.twitter.com/r7xuShzpv6
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) September 15, 2022
If anything, it is Rashford’s “different” threat — his pace, his trickery and his ability to stretch defences both through the middle and from wide positions — that seemed to mark him down as an alternative in a department that already includes two more orthodox centre-forwards in Harry KaneTammy Abraham. Abraham and Toney have, like Calvert Lewin, the appearance of Kane understudies, rather than potential accomplices in his forward line.
England’s goal problems have been severe. They scored only one goal (a Kane penalty) during those four miserable Nations League matches. Southgate needs to improve their attacking play. All the great qualities of Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, Jack Grealish, Phil FodenAnd Jarrod BowenUnfortunately, the correct formula has yet to be discovered.
There are some familiar questions about the midfield. Jordan HendersonIs missing because of injury.
Phillips impressed alongside Declan Rice during the European Championship but then struggled with injuries at Leeds last season and has not yet built up any kind of rhythm at City since his £42million ($48.2m) summer move.
Southgate will be eager for him to play and to assess his performance. However, the temptation to place Jude Bellingham in a starting lineup must be overwhelming considering the way Bellingham has started the year at 19. Borussia Dortmund.
There is also the dilemma of whether England should revert back to the three-man central defense that served England well in the previous two tournaments, or switch to a four-man back four.
Dier and Conor CoadyThis squad suggests that a back three is preferred, but the personnel are not as well-defined as they were during the Euros 15 months ago. Kyle Walker, John StonesMaguire, and all other winners.
Marc GuehiAnd AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori have done well to force their way into the squad, leaving players including Ben White, Tyrone MingsKilman from the outside looking in. It is now up to them whether they can also force their way into the first line-up. At the very least, there has to be a contingency plan if Maguire’s form with United doesn’t pick up.
Goalkeeper is one position where Southgate’s intentions are clear.
Although the latest form of Nick Pope, Aaron RamsdaleAnd Dean HendersonSeveral quarters have been divided about it. Jordan Pickford’s position as first-choice is secure; not only has he performed well for England over a five-year period, like Maguire, but he has matured into a far more assured figure at Everton.
Pickford’s absence from this squad with a thigh injury does raise some concerns, though; all three of Pope, Ramsdale and Henderson will be keen to stake strong claims to be his primary backup in Qatar.
These matches will be seen in the context World Cup preparations. However, they are not only warm-ups.
England need to win at least one of them to avoid finishing bottom of their Nations League group and getting relegated to the competition’s second tier for its next edition in 2024-25. After the chaotic, 4-0 defeat at home to England last season, it is clear that there is room for improvement. Hungary, which saw Southgate jeered by England’s supporters.
“Reflecting on the last couple of months, clearly as an international manager you don’t have any games to quickly put the disappointment behind you,” Southgate said. “We’ve had a long period to reflect, but now we are really looking forward to two high-quality matches that will be a great test for us and a crucial part of our preparation for the World Cup.
“It’s only eight weeks until we’ll be naming our squad for Qatar, so every minute counts.”
(Top photos by Getty Images; design Eamonn Dallton)
