Gareth Southgate seems on course to land the England job, Wales slip up, Republic of Ireland must stifle Gareth Bale and Spain warm up for WembleyCurrently there are no outstanding teams in international football. In part this is down to concentration of money in the club game, which has led to the world’s best players converging at fewer clubs than ever before. But to look at the winners of the last World Cup and European Championship, and to look at the South American giants, is to look at a fallow period across the board. Which is to say that it has never been easier to succeed, which is to say that England stand on the verge of opportunity. Though they...
Ramsey’s Wales return, Yiadom’s controversial Ghana inclusion, Southgate and Strachan heading in opposite directions and a fairytale comeback for FalcaoGareth Southgate is at the beginning, Gordon Strachan could be approaching the end. But both managers are under pressure before Friday night’s qualifier at Wembley. While Southgate has shown that he is not afraid to make big calls, dropping Wayne Rooney for the fortunate goalless draw in Slovenia, England’s caretaker oversaw underwhelming performances in hisfirst two matches and would not be seen as an inspiring permanent appointment if his team fails to convince against Scotland. The return of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling should enhance England’s threat, however, and it is Strachan who has bigger problems. Robert Snodgrass has been in...
Gareth Southgate should have taken radical action over England captaincy, Hal Robson-Kanu may be needed by Wales and how long can Didier Deschamps do without Karim Benzema?Captaincy is among the biggest red herrings in football: all players are supposed to set examples with their performances and leaders lead with or without an armband. And yet the England captaincy matters simply because a lot of people think it matters. Steven Gerrard was upset when it was taken off him by a caretaker manager, Stuart Pearce, and David Beckham was uplifted when it was given to him by a caretaker manager, Peter Taylor. The country’s latest caretaker manager, Gareth Southgate, should have de-fetishised the armband by announcing England do not need a...