Gareth Southgate is finally becoming ruthless – now England’s new generation must step up

EleonMay 21, 2024

14 5 minutes read

Gareth Southgate is finally becoming ruthless – now England’s new generation must step up

For years, Gareth Southgate has been accused of being too loyal; to stick by his most experienced players, no matter how poorly they played for their clubs. To Southgate’s detractors, he was guilty of favoritism, of ignoring the claims of in-form players so he could stick with those who had served him well in the past.

No one could make this criticism against Southgate today.

It was the most ruthless day of Southgate’s eight-year tenure as England manager. While he revealed his long list of 33 players from which he will choose his squad of 26 for the European Championship which begins on June 14, he did so without as many of the mainstays of his reign so far.

Jordan Henderson was one of the indispensable men of the Southgate era.

He was there for Southgate’s first game as an interim replacement for Sam Allardyce, Malta at home in October 2016, and has been an integral part ever since.

The then Liverpool midfielder was already an experienced player by that time – having been picked for Euro 2012, the World Cup two years later and Euro 2016 by Roy Hodgson – and has been the most trusted senior voice. Henderson anchored the midfield during the 2018 World Cup, then came off the bench for the final five Euro games in 2021 – the ultimate closer to see games out as England qualified for the final. He returned to the starting XI for the last 16 of the last World Cup, bringing his experience alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham in the middle.

Although he had a difficult year at club level, first in Saudi Arabia and then with Ajax, it seemed Southgate would still want him for his experience and leadership.

Henderson has always been one of the loudest members of the team, not only the loudest on the field, but also a trusted voice on sensitive issues. When Joe Gomez and Raheem Sterling fell out dramatically during an England camp in 2019, it was Henderson who helped resolve the issue.

Today, Southgate called him an “exceptional individual” and a “fantastic human being”.

And yet, despite all that, there was no room for Henderson on today’s roster. Southgate said he has struggled to find the “intensity” in recent weeks following injury.

When Southgate said it was “a really difficult decision to make”, it seemed like the hardest bad news he had to deliver today. Because, as Henderson turns 34 next month, it looks like he might struggle to add to his 81 caps.

Marcus Rashford is not as experienced as Henderson but, like him, his international career began even before Southgate was appointed to the managerial role.

He went to Euro 2016 with Hodgson, came off the bench in Southgate’s first game and featured in all three major tournaments under his management. He has usually been a substitute at the 2018 World Cup (where he scored in the round of 16 against Colombia), Euro 2020 (where he missed his attempt as Italy became champions, also at the penalties) and at the World Cup two years later. There is. Perhaps it was unfortunate that Harry Kane and Sterling always started ahead of him and that his best form for England came in the three years between Russia 2018 and those pandemic-delayed Euros.

Southgate explains his selections to the media at St George’s Park (Darren Staples/AFP via Getty Images)

But Southgate has always had faith in Rashford, taking him to these Euros despite injury and always valuing what he can offer.

Even during a very difficult 2023-24 season for him and Manchester United, Southgate included Rashford for the March internationals. But this time the 26-year-old is missing out, with fit younger players preferred. “With Marcus, I just feel like other players in that area of the pitch have had better seasons,” Southgate said at the start of his press conference. “It’s that simple.”

Those are the two major absences, but many other prominent players in recent years haven’t made it.

Perhaps Sterling’s absence isn’t really notable anymore; he was an integral player for Southgate until the World Cup in Qatar, but has not been part of an England team since.

Eric Dier, who has also not won a cap since Qatar, is also absent, although he has been in the form of his life for Bayern Munich since his January transfer, helping them qualify for the semi -Champions League final and proving he can play in a back four. “He played very well for Bayern and I know they are very, very happy with him,” Southgate said. “We think he’s right behind the other guys we drafted.”

This tournament in Qatar was only 18 months ago, but it now feels like a different time as many of the players selected by Southgate have now been sidelined. Not only Henderson, Rashford, Sterling and Dier, but also Kalvin Phillips – unsurprisingly considered not to have had a good enough season – while Mason Mount, Nick Pope, Callum Wilson and Conor Coady have also fallen out of sight.

There is also no place for Ben Chilwell, who, along with Rashford and Henderson, received a phone call from Southgate explaining his omission.

So, regardless of the seven players released between now and the flight to Germany, this is already a new, radical and young team. Everyone expects some degree of churn, but no one expected Southgate to not include as many of his most reliable players on today’s roster.

And it raises the prospect of a different leadership dynamic, this summer and beyond.

Of course, there will always be experienced players from Russia 2018, or even before: Kane, Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, John Stones, Harry Maguire. The backbone of the England team is intact. But with the rest of the veterans now excluded, space has been created for a new generation of leaders to take over.

In England’s last match, against Belgium in March, their captain was Declan Rice. As a guaranteed starter in Germany, his leadership as well as the play of Jude Bellingham, who has been identified as a potential national team captain since his debut with the England Under-15s, will be subject to scrutiny. increasing attention.

These are the players who need to occupy this leadership space now. Because at some point in the future, people will start to wonder if it’s Rice or Bellingham who will take the armband when Kane chooses to hand it to him.

This is why Southgate is moving away from the traditional ‘leadership group’ and doesn’t want his players to be too deferential to the roles of captain and vice-captain.

“We have young players with lots of caps,” Southgate said. “There’s no reason why younger players can’t lead and the dynamic will be slightly different. But you also give other people space to mature and develop. We have so many good influences around the band that I would love to get feedback from different areas. We need people to move forward.

The full England team

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale, James Trafford. Defenders: Jarrad Branthwaite, Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Harry Maguire, Jarell Quansah, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker. Midfielder : Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Gallagher, Curtis Jones, Kobbie Mainoo, Adam Wharton, Declan Rice. Advantages: Jude Bellingham, Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Anthony Gordon, Harry Kane, James Maddison, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins

Key dates