A nation expected England to go far, even all the way, at Euro 2020, but at this World Cup, pre-tournament targets were lower for most level-headed supporters, with one area of the pitch in particular of real concern.
Gareth Southgate’s go-to central defensive pairing of John Stones and Harry Maguire had 11 Premier League starts from a possible 28 to their collective name this season ahead of the Qatar tournament, Luke Shaw temporarily lost his place in the Manchester United side to Tyrell Malacia, while Kyle Walker travelled to Doha injured.
An out-of-practice backline had not performed well on the international stage either. In their first match of the current campaign, a Nations League clash with Hungary at home in June, England were humiliated by a 4-0 defeat, the first time the Three Lions had lost by four or more goals at home since 1928.
Three more were shipped in the Nations League clash with Germany in September, just to add to the overriding feeling that the England rearguard was too fragile.
Southgate was not even set in his best defensive system – whether to go with three central defenders with wing-backs on the flanks or a flat back four – on the eve of the tournament.
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While two were conceded against Iran in their tournament opener, one came when England were 4-0 up and the other was a more than dubious penalty deep into injury time. Since then they have been near impenetrable.
What’s most satisfying is that the backline that has reasserted its authority contains all the protagonists who had caused the defensive doubts in the first place.
“I spoke before the tournament about why our defence was getting brought up quite a bit and rightly so after the summer we had,” Stones said. “I am extremely proud of how we have dealt with it as a group, coming off those games, conceding and losing form as a team, as a united, as a defence.
“And how we have come through these three games in a difficult group we knew we were going to face. We are in a World Cup and anything can happen. I am extremely proud to keep two clean sheets.
“We’ve done really well since we’ve been here, working hard on the fundamentals and the basics and working hard as a back four and a defensive unit.”
Arguably the standout defender has been Maguire, and such a resurgence deserves the utmost acclaim, not just from a team-mate who has known the United centre-back since they were teenagers in south Yorkshire.
Maguire has become the ultimate figure of ridicule, the easiest of targets. Booed by United supporters on a pre-season tour in Australia and booed by England fans in the summer Nations League games, many did not even want the 29-year-old in the World Cup squad never mind the starting XI.
Bizarrely, Maguire was even mocked in the Ghanaian parliament this week. Nobody deserves to be the figure of fun he has become, having endured a miserable two years following his run-in with the Greek police in Mykonos in 2020.
“Right from the first game, he has given a great response,” Stones added. “All three games he has been terrific. It is about us finding that partnership again and we have done that in the three games and it is time to keep rebuilding. The credit goes to him.
“I have been asked a lot of questions about Harry but knowing what he has been going through at his club, it speaks volumes to come through this and still believe in himself. There has been a lot of noise from the outside which he has not listened to. Credit to him. We believed in him, his United team-mates believed in him.
“He is a huge character within the group, as he has been for all his England career. He has wanted to improve and get to know people, and that starts off the pitch.”
Credit must also go to Southgate for ignoring such noise. He has always been adamant Maguire would step up when called upon for his country, words that are very much ringing true.
The fact that Maguire was the one chosen to be serenaded by fans after England’s final group win over Wales tells its own story of a player, and a backline, who has come full circle, just at the right time.
Stones: Southgate’s legacy will live on whenever he steps aside
While admitting it is difficult to contemplate a future for England without Gareth Southgate, John Stones believes the current coach’s legacy will live on long after his spell in charge.
Southgate signed a new contract until 2024 last year, but admitted on the eve of the World Cup that how England perform in Qatar will determine whether he stays in charge, having yet to guide his team to a major trophy, despite strong performances at the last World Cup in Russia and at Euro 2020.
Stones has won 51 caps under Southgate’s tutelage and has seen the transformation of the whole England setup, aided by the construction of St George’s Park. Southgate has been at the forefront of the growth, on and off the pitch.
“I don’t want to think about that to be honest,” Stones said at the prospect of Southgate leaving. “It’s a difficult one to answer.
“Whatever has been put in place I hope continues to grow with this England squad and England FA. The players, the environment, the culture that Gareth has implemented along with his staff is now a benchmark we have set for ourselves as a team and the new players that are coming in.
“I don’t ever want to think about someone leaving, what Gareth has done for us as a nation has been incredible. Hopefully he will continue.”
Stones has started all three England games at the World Cup so far, with Southgate’s side topping their group to book a last 16 clash with Senegal.
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There will be no letting up from the Three Lions, ensuring the culture of excellence in all areas is maintained.
“We spoke briefly in our meeting this morning about not letting any standards drop,” he added.
“Getting fourth at the last World Cup was incredible for where we came from, and since 2018 we’ve built so much that we need to better that.”
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