The 'Three Lions' return to a final 55 years after the 66 World Cup, the only international title in their showcases. In fact, on Sunday at Wembley they will play their first continental final, partly thanks to the work of their coach, Gareth southgate. The coach landed on the English bench in September 2016 after the failures of World Cup 2014, where they fell in the group stage, and from the Euro 2016, eliminated by Iceland in the second round. Since then, Southgate has been building a solid team that prioritizes order over the beauty of its game. Despite criticism of his figure for the style implemented, England he has cleared rivals until reaching the final with a single goal against. Italy will be the last obstacle on the way, but first, the coach has to solve the unknown that hangs around his front.
Harry kane Y Raheem Sterling they are two indisputable players for Southgate. The Tottenham striker has been reunited with the goal after a gray group stage in which he failed to see the door or influence the English game. With four goals, Cristiano's golden boot lurks. In addition, he has discovered in Sterling a partner to filter balls and with whom to lead the attack. The Manchester City winger has responded to Southgate's confidence despite having lost importance at his club. Sterling has led England with three goals and one assist, being decisive to accelerate the plays and provide depth. His Euro 2020 It places him in the forefront to be chosen as one of the best players in the tournament. However, the alternatives included in the English call place Southgate in a dilemma.
The options go first through the choice of the scheme. In the tournament, his drawings have varied from 3-4-1-2 to the 3-4-3, 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1. The selection of the number of centrals and the pretensions of the coach himself will mark the profile of the attackers, although the torrent of English talent augurs a bench full of stars.
Mason Mount
The Chelsea midfielder has been a starter in the last two matches in England, setting a remarkable performance as an inside and as a hitch. Southgate holds him in high regard for his ability to appear between the lines, occupy spaces and feed balls to other attackers. After starting against Croatia and Scotland, he fell from the eleven due to the isolation he had to meet with Chilwell and Foden after having contact with his Chelsea teammate, Billy Gilmour, positive for COVID-19. With one assist and four starts, he is running as one of the favorites to start against Italy.
Phil Foden
The emergence of the young Manchester City footballer invited us to think of him as a fixture for England, but after playing against Croatia and Scotland as a right winger, he fell out of the calls for the same reason as Mount. Against Denmark he played extra time, but his intermittency in the tournament and his left-handedness take him away from the eleven. England bets on an extreme that enters inside like Sterling and on another that provides breadth, a profile that collides with Guardiola's talented pupil.
Jack grealish
The footballer most in demand by the English fans since the Eurocopa started. The Aston Villa midfielder has only started against the Czech Republic, but whenever he has entered, he has filled England with ideas, improved circulation and provided solutions to the attack. His talent for reading the plays dazzles the public, although for Southgate he is their opener of spaces in the final stretch of the games. It unfolds as a hitch and falls to the left, placing Mount as his main rival to take over the position.
Bukayo saka
The promise of Arsenal has managed to carve a niche in the alignments with only 19 years. Holder against the Czech Republic, Germany and Denmark, he served as winger and lane to take advantage of his overflow and his deployment. Saka adds both in attack and defense, allowing the scheme to vary over the course of the match. However, Gary Neville, the historic English player, doubted his presence on Sunday: “I'm not sure if I will start. I think it could be too much for him, “he said.
Jadon Sancho
The brand new signing of Manchester United has spent the European Championship in ostracism until the official announcement of his transfer. After having played ten minutes against the Czech Republic in the group stage, they returned as a starter against Ukraine, but had no impact on the win. Little came into play and did not offer the depth and imbalance that characterize him. However, his nature as a winger and his talent endorse him and place him as one of the candidates to play in the final.
Marcus rashford
The biggest hurt by Sterling's level in the tournament. Although he can function in the three positions of the trident, his favorite position is that of the extreme left. The Manchester United striker possesses dizzying speed, pauses to read the plays and a nose for detecting the opponent's weaknesses and attacking them. One of the most careful dribbling forwards on the planet has played just four games, all of them coming off the bench and leaving nothing to raise doubts at Southgate. For the coach his role has been reduced to that of agitator.
Calvert-Lewin
He is the striker with the least chances of entering at least as a starter. Harry Kane's shadow is gigantic, due to his football and hierarchy as captain. The Everton striker played two minutes against Croatia and 17 against Ukraine, limiting his participation to a disadvantaged match where the center back is England's resource to find the goal.
