Although the matches against San Marino and Albania are hardly the most interesting for England, this cluster of World Cup qualifiers is the last hurdle the Three Lions face before jumping on the plane for the European Championships this summer.
And with Poland left to play, there has been a lot for Gareth Southgate to learn more about his side before the tournament. Understanding how to ensure that such a talented crop is based on the efforts for their run at the 2018 World Cup, so that everyone can spend the summer running around and ordering pints and wearing vests again.
With such a huge list of attacking talents, immediately using a 3-4-3 or a 3-5-2 2018 meant that it was a struggle to combine the attack so ruthlessly, with a focus on defense. England must move on from that this year, and getting the midfield’s balance is the key to that.
Solid performance from home to win! Lots to build on. On Wednesday we go❤️? @England pic.twitter.com/euVvtXqNsF
– Declan Rice (@_DeclanRice) March 28, 2021
James Ward-Prowse has never really been held in “England regular” appreciation, and is rarely even in the conversation between the Premier League’s top midfielder. However, the 26-year-old has impressed this season, and his individual performances for England in the March international break so far are a sign of that.
Central midfield is perhaps England’s weakest area. A collection of players who are solid, but beyond Jordan Henderson, there is a clear lack of the same certified game-winning ability that the squad possesses in attack. Declan Rice is a competent defensive midfielder, but with Henderson’s doubts about the euro, Ward-Prowse feels like the best option to go into the empty net if it should come to it.
Again, let’s not go before ourselves. These solid performances have come to San Marino and Albania. But you can only play what is in front of you and the Southampton man’s attitude has been a positive and downplayed his first international goal in the process.
What he lacks in a consistent, game-defining passing area and defensive attributes, he compensates for with a relentless engine and obvious leadership qualities, serving as Southampton captain at club level.
Kalvin Phillips is called upon to take the place that Ward-Prowse would occupy, and although there are concerns that none of them are really at the desired level, Phillips is simply too defensive an inclusion when considering that Rice is already in XI – he could, however, do very well in harder fixtures.
Ward-Prowse Deserves Some Credit | Pool / Getty Images
Ward-Prowse does the dirty work. He is not the most spotty, nor will he regularly pick out passes that we will not see even after 100 attempts, but he does the important work. It’s very ridiculous to run and just be on one side to press, but it’s an increasingly important part of the game and to have some box-to-box as the 26-year-old guarantees a tireless performance, with Jude Bellingham still a bit green. and Mason Mount not really suited for the deeper role during an entire tournament.
Also keep in mind that he loves a set, it seems that Southgate can warm him up pretty quickly in the summer, which is understandable. The inclusion not only feels like the most suitable replacement if Henderson were not in shape, but he provides a unique quality from dead ball situations that significantly reinforces England’s threats, especially when considering how Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish (just kidding, he does not play, right?) Can beat a man and make mistakes in dangerous areas.
A free kick dealer on the plane? Yes please | Pool / Getty Images
Is it the most glamorous option? No. If Henderson is after the euro, Gareth Southgate will have a huge headache no matter how he navigates and replaces him throughout the tournament. And while Ward-Prowse is not at all destined for international greatness, he could certainly do a job with a certain healthy rotation and let England play both a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3.
He’s not perfect, but he can only be the perfect man in Southgate’s system this summer.
