AN ENGLAND legend from Italia ‘90 has called for Gareth Southgate to drop Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
The Three Lions are currently preparing for their semi against the Dutch tomorrow to determine who will meet the winner of tonight’s Spain vs France in the Euro 2024 final.
ReutersAn England legend has called for Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden to be axed tomorrow[/caption]
PA:Empics SportItalia ’90 icon Chris Waddle says that he is ‘unconvinced’ by the pair[/caption]
Despite some underwhelming displays, Southgate’s side got into the final four courtesy of Saturday’s triumph over the Swiss.
Breel Embolo looked to have won it for Switzerland when he broke the deadlock with just 15 minutes left only for Bukayo Saka’s brilliant equaliser ensuring extra-time.
Neither nation could find another breakthrough, leading to penalties.
With the help of his trusted waterbottle, Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanji’s spot-kick before Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, and Ivan Toney all converted for England.
That left Trent Alexander-Arnold to step up to win it, and the Liverpool star made no mistake in securing a 5-3 shootout win.
That set-up Wednesday’s showdown with the Dutch, who came from behind themselves to beat Turkey 2-1.
Much has been made of Southgate’s team selection throughout the tournament so far, but now he has been urged to drop two of his ever-presents.
Man City ace Foden has been a regular down the left while Real Madrid superstar Bellingham, who scored the winner against Serbia before his outstanding bicycle kick saved us against Slovakia, has played in the No.10.
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But former winger Chris Waddle says he is “unconvinced” by the pair and that we have not seen the best of them in Germany.
Speaking to Prime Casino, the 63-year-old, who won 62 England caps, said: “We still haven’t seen the best of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
“I’m not convinced by either of them. People want them to replicate their performances for Real Madrid and Manchester City when the pull on an England shirt, but that’s unrealistic because they’re not playing with the likes of Luka Modric, Vini Junior, Kevin De Bruyne or Rodri, but at the same time, I think we can expect more than what we have seen.”
Many have called for the likes of Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze and Cole Palmer to be given an opportunity instead.
And Waddle, who heartbreakingly missed a penalty in the World Cup semi-final 34 years ago against West Germany, agrees.
Gareth Southgate should do the unthinkable and drop Harry Kane
SunSport’s Dave Kidd explains why England captain should not start Netherlands clash.
Gareth Southgate built this era of consistent English success on ruthlessness.
Now can the England manager make the boldest selection call of all by benching his captain and all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane for Wednesday’s Euros semi-final against Holland?
Because Kane needs a rest and England need a different option at centre-forward.
Southgate started his reign by thinking the unthinkable and binning off his captain and all-time leading scorer Wayne Rooney.
Could he now do the same, temporarily, with Kane?
Southgate may be loyal to a fault but even he admitted his skipper was not “flowing” after Saturday’s shootout triumph over Switzerland.
The Three Lions chief replaced a struggling Kane with Ivan Toney in extra-time.
Few of Europe’s leading stars are peaking here and many are running on fumes. Yet even in this environment, Kane sticks out as being absolutely cream-crackered.
During Saturday’s game, England needed an outlet as the Swiss pinned them back before Breel Embolo’s opener but Kane didn’t have the legs to provide it.
He is not winning enough aerial duels, has been way off target with a couple of headed chances and against Switzerland his touch count was again worryingly low, just 26.
Ideally, Kane would be honest enough to admit he is struggling.
Yet all great goalscorers need egos — a selfish streak is part of the job spec.
And for a player who has, infamously, never won a trophy to offer himself up for a rest at the semi-final stage is almost unthinkable.
But England needn’t rely on Kane to such an extent that they have to play him when half-fit.
Southgate knows his history and made a point of telling his squad about 1966 and how England’s goalscoring talisman, Jimmy Greaves, was injured in the final group match and replaced by Geoff Hurst.
Fifty-eight years later, another legendary Tottenham goalscorer is struggling for fitness. Could Toney, or even Ollie Watkins, become the Hurst of 2024?
He said: “If I was Cole Palmer or Eberechi Eze, I would be having a word with the manager asking him to give me some minutes when the scores are level rather than coming into a game when England are staring down the barrel of a defeat, because the likes of Bellingham and Foden simply aren’t doing it.
“Our performances have improved when Palmer and Eze have been introduced. I think that we look like a much better team in terms of the football we’re playing with them in the side.”
However, he does believe he knows why Southgate keeps persisting with the two attackers.
The ex-Newcastle, Tottenham and Sheffield Wednesday icon added: “I think that Bellingham and Foden are getting into the team in front of Palmer and Eze because they work a little bit harder off the ball and Gareth likes his midfielders to graft.
“He has definitely sacrificed creativity for discipline in my opinion.
“The thing is, I think you can find a better balance in midfield that blends a bit of steel and hard work with creativity and technical ability.
“We haven’t managed to do that. Spain has the perfect midfield blend.”
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