KALININGRAD, Russia, June 29, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Gareth Southgate is finally
experiencing the level of scrutiny that comes with being England manager at a
World Cup as his gamble to make eight changes in losing 1-0 to Belgium comes
under the microscope.
By finishing second to the Red Devils in Group G, England avoided a loaded
top half of the draw featuring France, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and
Portugal.
A quarter-final against Switzerland or Sweden looks far more enticing. But
first England have to get to the last eight by ending a 12-year wait to win a
knockout game in a major tournament when they face Colombia on Tuesday.
“Momentum Lost, Feelgood Factor Lost, Game Lost,” said the Daily Mail,
after England raised expectations by beating Tunisia and Panama in their
opening two games to make the last 16.
“This was by all accounts, the smart result for Gareth Southgate and
England,” wrote the Mail’s chief sports writer Martin Samuel. “So why didn’t
it feel that way?”
By making wholesale changes, including dropping the tournament’s top
goalscorer Harry Kane to the bench, Southgate has invited pressure on himself
and his young squad for the first time during his reign.
“England will play Colombia and if you start thinking any further than
that, I think you are risking a lot,” warned Belgium manager Roberto
Martinez.
Before flying to Russia, many would have judged a run to the quarter-finals
a success for England after they failed to get beyond the group stage four
years ago and following their humiliating defeat to Iceland in the last 16 of
Euro 2016.
Now, if they find a way past Colombia, they will fancy their chances of
reaching the semi-finals.
The team would then face the pressure of expectations — a different
challenge from potentially facing Brazil in the other half of the draw with
little to lose.
“Better to lose to Neymar than Granit Xhaka, to die a heroic death at the
height of your powers,” said the Guardian, comparing Arsenal’s Swiss
midfielder to the world’s most expensive player.
Southgate said his reasoning for changing a winning side was based on
keeping his star players as fresh as possible rather than plotting an easier
path towards the final.
Introducing tournament topscorer Kane even as a substitute he claimed would
have been “ridiculous” for fear the Tottenham striker could pick up an
injury.
The England manager’s decision was also taken with squad harmony in mind.
He has spoken openly of his frustration as a player at not playing a single
minute at the 2002 World Cup.
By introducing Danny Welbeck rather than Kane from the bench for the final
15 minutes in Kaliningrad, he ensured all of his outfield players have now
been involved across the three group games.
“We’ve got 20 outfield players who have now played in a World Cup. That’s
hugely important for the feeling in our camp over the next few weeks,” said
Southgate.
But the stark contrast between thrashing Panama 6-1 and a tame defeat
without the same energy, excitement or end product, only served to show
Southgate’s squad is not as deep as he would wish.
“Southgate hoped that by involving his reserve team last night he would
reinforce the harmony of his squad, close any gaps between first XI and the
rest. In playing terms, a deflating night did exactly the opposite,” wrote
Matt Dickinson in the Times. England’s returning stars must now perform in
Moscow or their manager will face a mighty backlash.