Page 57 - Soccer360 Issue 105

TOP RIGHT:
Harry Kane has been one of europe’s most dangerous strikers for quite a while.
RIGHT:
Raheem Sterling has been a staple in the England foundation.
BOTTOM RIGHT:
Marcus Rashford has 17 goals in 59 games for England.
EURO
2024 FEATURE
SOCCER360 57
ANOTHER GOLDEN GENERATION!
Of course many of you will recall that we’ve had a golden generation before. This unfortunate term was coined by the FA Chief Executive at the time, Adam Crozier to label the likes of Owen, Terry, Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes and Rooney et al, for the period covering 2000- 2010. Sadly Mr Crozier obviously didn’t envisage at the time that this collection of supposedly world class footballing virtuosity would go on to prove as effective as a one legged man in an arse kicking competition when it came to winning the games‘ premier international competitions. Surely we are not going
to be the only footballing nation in history to have two trophy-less golden generations!!
CAN SOUTHGATE FIND A KILLER INSTINCT?
It kills your correspondent to say it but the answer is probably not. I say this because like many others, I distrust Southgate’s instincts for the game. and that his meticulous deliberation acts as an anchor upon him and his undoubtedly talented group of players. His failure
to act proactively and decisively when his team are on top has done for him
on three occasions. It was particularly telling when the score was one apiece
in the World Cup quarter final against the French. England were lauded for being the better team for periods of this game. However, such analysis fails to grasp the essential point that Southgate only reacted once he lost control of it. He didn’t go for the jugular while his team were on top. It is this in-game management that makes the crucial difference at the highest level of the sport.
THE PLAYERS THAT MIGHT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
Southgate has an embarrassment of riches at his fingertips, and four players in particular who might prove the difference between winning and another bitter disappointment. Harry Kane is still the deadliest striker in Europe, and scoring for fun in Germany even though Bayern Munch have, at the very time Kane
had trophies within his grasp, suddenly morphed into Bayern Hotspur! No matter. He’s still Southgate’s main man up front. Jude Bellingham is the midfield revelation every England fan has been dreaming
of for generations. His impetus, link-up play and eye for goal is certainly putting a smile on the face of his team mate and master, Luka Modric!
James Maddison, a player blessed with creativity, gile, and who finds more gaps than your local dentist, is a better footballer than Rashford, Grealish or Raheem Sterling with whom he is in competition.
And Declan Rice. The holding midfielder, confident on the ball and a reliable putter out of fires. As comfortable in the opposition third as he is in his own.
SO. WILL ENGLAND MAKE THAT FINAL STEP?
They have the players. But they had the players in 2020 and they had the players in the last World Cup. So, Unfortunately as much as Gareth is a decent man, who has done a decent job, he remains, I
fear, a serial recidivist doomed to repeat past indecision. Will this rabbit in the headlights hesitancy that plagues his managerial make-up doom him to failure for a fourth time? Or will the players triumph in spite of him? This summer will finally end the debate around him once and for all.