England's attacking impetus and depth is magnificent, but it threatens to be counteracted by a defensive fitness crisis. Cross your fingers and hopeand the public, even after a predictably pedestrian first half. Cole Palmer’s goal, Eberechi Eze’s dynamism and Jack Grealish’s impact means that we are spoilt for choice in attacking midfield areas – difficult decisions must be made.
Further back, Conor Gallagher’s energy shone through more than during the March international break, Trent Alexander-Arnold is clearly an option for Gareth Southgate in central midfield andBut there’s a problem that has been growing for at least 18 months. It seems ludicrous to suggest that, and thus that failure to win this tournament would be unacceptable, when England’s defensive plans are in such disarray.
Thanks to a combination of form and fitness issues, Southgate faces the prospect of having no chance before heading to Germany to road test what he might consider to be his best defence. Even then, there are doubts whether everyone will be fit for Serbia on 15 June.A cert to start if he’s fully fit, but that’s becoming less guaranteed all the time.
Wasn’t picked for the reserves against Bosnia, which means one of two things: 1) Gomez is likely to be cut from the squad, or 2) Gomez is likely to start at left-back for England against Iceland on Friday, with Shaw still out. I’m leaning towards the second option, which would likely mean he’s on the plane.Hmmm. Branthwaite being only a substitute for a match in which Southgate started three natural central defenders is not ideal, suggesting that he’s one of those ones to be cut.