England - the future....

[South Coast Royal]

BTW nearly all the leading countries picked a squad of 26 and that was it-Scotland picked 28.
So why did Southgate pick such a big training squad when there are only a couple of injury doubts-does it smack of uncertainty in his thoughts?

Why 4 keepers ffs.?

I am pleased that he kept all 3 strikers with Bowen as a further striker/winger option.l

[Loafer]

Lol this is pathetic

Also shaw isn't avaliable until the 3rd game apparently and hasn't played since Feb

Why not just take Mitchell instead

[Orion1871]

Don't you just hate all these repeats they keep putting on the telly?

[Ascotexgunner]

This is the kind of game that Grealish would offer more than any of this lot.
I know he has had a bad season he would shine in a game like this.
Mainoo is too green at this level, and it shows.

[Royal Rother]

The squib is completely drenched.

[BRO_BOT]

Mainoo is too green at this level, and it shows.

He won MotM against Belgium in his first start. I only watched bits of the game and it looked like a typical England game against a low-block

i.e shite!

[WestYorksRoyal]

Meh. Argentina lost their opening game to Saudi Arabia in 2022 and their tournament turned out alright. Good to get a shocker like tonight out of our system, and will hopefully focus the minds on what needs to happen ahead of next week.

[Sutekh]

Well that was a ******* pathetic excuse, think only Palmer was moderately useful.

Now Stones is a possible doubt, really hate these stupid pointless friendlies.

[LUX]

It was terrible. But meaningless.
Us going into the tournament on the back of a triumphant 5-0 win would have been worse IMO,

[South Coast Royal]

It was terrible. But meaningless.
Us going into the tournament on the back of a triumphant 5-0 win would have been worse IMO,

Yes, based on last night's game we have no chance but it could just be a reminder that it won't just happen and they have to work for it.

There seemed to be two tactics:
First 60 minutes, give it to Gordon and hope something happens
Last 30 minutes, give it to TAA and hope something happens.

One of our only 2 world class players in Bellingham was the only major player missing and we desperately need him not to get injured.

A few things we may have learned from last night

Gordon doesn't have a left foot
Trippier shouldn't play left back
Rice and Foden are made to look better than they are by playing with Odegaard and Rodri/De Bruyne respectively
Trent has to play
Safe, sideways passing doesn't get you far
Pundits get ever worse

It could have been more embarrassing than 1-0; we move on.

[bcubed]

It seems an odd idea to be trying people and things immediately before a tournament. I'm pretty sure successful teams tend to play their best 11 and get them used to playing with each other, tinkering a bit if you want to try someone out or a new tactic.

I agree a 5 0 win sets us up, in the press anyway, and we'd be lauded as favourites. But I'd rather go into a big tournament on the back of a win than a disappointing performance and loss.

[Royal Rother]

It was terrible. But meaningless.
Us going into the tournament on the back of a triumphant 5-0 win would have been worse IMO,

Rice and Foden are made to look better than they are by playing with Odegaard and Rodri/De Bruyne respectively.

Harsh but unsurprising I suppose because they aren’t Liverpool.

The way Arsenal and Man City play is intricate and complex, based on a deep understanding of what their team mates are going to do and where they are going to be at all times.

Very difficult to replicate with players from other clubs.

Rice and Foden are still excellent players but, for sure, they are slightly blunted without the ones you mention around them. Rather than it just being about the excellence of Odegaard and the others, I think it’s more that the teamwork and connections that make performances for their clubs so effective just won’t be there in the same way.

I understand why Southgate chose to play other squad members (Oh, the outcry if someone got injured in a “meaningless” friendly in the lead up to a tournament) but (as bcubed suggests) it might have been better to give the 1st 11 another opportunity to develop those all important connections.

[South Coast Royal]

It seems an odd idea to be trying people and things immediately before a tournament. I'm pretty sure successful teams tend to play their best 11 and get them used to playing with each other, tinkering a bit if you want to try someone out or a new tactic.

I agree a 5 0 win sets us up, in the press anyway, and we'd be lauded as favourites. But I'd rather go into a big tournament on the back of a win than a disappointing performance and loss.

Very much agree with playing the starting eleven even if only in training as a match between starters and the rest, which they may have done already, although I am not sure that Southgate knows his best eleven.

[Sutekh]

It was terrible. But meaningless.
Us going into the tournament on the back of a triumphant 5-0 win would have been worse IMO,

Rice and Foden are made to look better than they are by playing with Odegaard and Rodri/De Bruyne respectively.

Harsh but unsurprising I suppose because they aren’t Liverpool.

The way Arsenal and Man City play is intricate and complex, based on a deep understanding of what their team mates are going to do and where they are going to be at all times.

Very difficult to replicate with players from other clubs.

Rice and Foden are still excellent players but, for sure, they are slightly blunted without the ones you mention around them. Rather than it just being about the excellence of Odegaard and the others, I think it’s more that the teamwork and connections that make performances for their clubs so effective just won’t be there in the same way.

I understand why Southgate chose to play other squad members (Oh, the outcry if someone got injured in a “meaningless” friendly in the lead up to a tournament) but (as bcubed suggests) it might have been better to give the 1st 11 another opportunity to develop those all important connections.

As it is Stones went off at HT and may well be a doubt for Sunday week. Stupid pointless games, do players really need to "warm up" after an English season

[South Coast Royal]

Rice and Foden are made to look better than they are by playing with Odegaard and Rodri/De Bruyne respectively.

Harsh but unsurprising I suppose because they aren’t Liverpool.

The way Arsenal and Man City play is intricate and complex, based on a deep understanding of what their team mates are going to do and where they are going to be at all times.

Very difficult to replicate with players from other clubs.

Rice and Foden are still excellent players but, for sure, they are slightly blunted without the ones you mention around them. Rather than it just being about the excellence of Odegaard and the others, I think it’s more that the teamwork and connections that make performances for their clubs so effective just won’t be there in the same way.

I understand why Southgate chose to play other squad members (Oh, the outcry if someone got injured in a “meaningless” friendly in the lead up to a tournament) but (as bcubed suggests) it might have been better to give the 1st 11 another opportunity to develop those all important connections.

As it is Stones went off at HT and may well be a doubt for Sunday week. Stupid pointless games, do players really need to "warm up" after an English season

Don't think so and Bellingham has had a warm down.

[Sanguine]

Have to say that with the emergence of Wharton, Guehi, Palmer and Mainoo in this squad, and the likes of Branthwaite, Quansah, Elliott, Lewis and Colwill on its fringes, I feel like England will remain a very strong side for a while to come yet. Replacing Kane in a cycle's time probably the biggest challenge.

[NathStPaul]

Have to say that with the emergence of Wharton, Guehi, Palmer and Mainoo in this squad, and the likes of Branthwaite, Quansah, Elliott, Lewis and Colwill on its fringes, I feel like England will remain a very strong side for a while to come yet. Replacing Kane in a cycle's time probably the biggest challenge.

Would it shock you if Kane retired from international football after the Euros? I can see it happening personally.

[Sanguine]

Have to say that with the emergence of Wharton, Guehi, Palmer and Mainoo in this squad, and the likes of Branthwaite, Quansah, Elliott, Lewis and Colwill on its fringes, I feel like England will remain a very strong side for a while to come yet. Replacing Kane in a cycle's time probably the biggest challenge.

Would it shock you if Kane retired from international football after the Euros? I can see it happening personally.

It would, to be honest. He's come closer to winning something as an England player, and indeed captain, than he has as a club footballer. I can't see him jacking it in at 31 years old to focus on scoring goals for Bayern - just wouldn't make much sense to me. But then Shearer and Scholes retiring 'early' didn't either!

If he does stick around - the 2028 Euros in England would seem a natural time at which to bow out, at nearly 35.

It's hard to know with Kane how motivated he is by personal records. He's a very beige footballer, in a speaking sense. No idea what gets him up in the morning. If England reach the knockout stages at the next World Cup, he'll set a record for World Cup matches played by an outfield player, at 15 (behind Shilton's 17). He needs three goals at the 2026 World Cup to go past Lineker's 10 at the tournament. And he could set an England scoring record that stands forever. At his current rate he'll get close to 100.

[6ft Kerplunk]

I think Kane will try and make it to the next World Cup, I'm not sure he should be such a nailed on starter from now on. But even Toney and Watkins will be 30 by the World Cup finals so we could really do with a young speedy striker breaking through in the next 18 months.

[Sanguine]

I think Kane will try and make it to the next World Cup, I'm not sure he should be such a nailed on starter from now on. But even Toney and Watkins will be 30 by the World Cup finals so we could really do with a young speedy striker breaking through in the next 18 months.

'Fun' fact - Eddie Nketiah has almost as many goals for England's age group teams (35 in 39 games) than he does in domestic league games (37 in 158).