DUBLIN — The road to New Jersey, venue of the next World Cup final, starts here.
England’s Nations League assignment against Ireland in Dublin arrives with a few fascinating subplots – Declan Rice’s return, anyone? – but let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture.
They only have two years to find a formula to succeed at the 2026 World Cup, where the lumpen performances of the summer just passed will not suffice.
The autumn fixtures also double up as an audition for Lee Carsley, who can press his claims to graduate from interim manager with impressive performances and results.
But there are others in the England setup with plenty to prove with a World Cup cycle looming on the horizon.
Harry Kane
Drop England’s captain and record goalscorer, the man with a track record of scoring when it matters?
It is no longer as unthinkable as it once was. Look at the big moments from the summer’s Euros – the Ollie Watkins winner, Cole Palmer levelling the final against Spain and the Switzerland penalty shoot-out – and Kane wasn’t on the pitch for any of them. If England’s low block, slow build-up looked out of time for a new era, you could argue Kane’s laboured performances contributed to that.
With the Bundesliga, Champions League and Euro 2024 golden boot last year – along with a Ballon d’Or nomination – he remains one of England’s world-class players. It would be foolish to write him off or downgrade how important his leadership qualities are to a young group.
But if England are to be competitive in the next World Cup they must evolve. Kane has two years to show he can go on that journey.
Jack Grealish
His shock omission from the Euro 2024 squad went down so badly with his teammates that Kane sought out Gareth Southgate to discover his justification.
Grealish should have gone to Germany but there was logic behind Southgate’s call to go with more in-form players. The issue was that Southgate then failed to trust any of them to play more than a few minutes.
For Grealish the road to the US, Canada and Mexico starts in hostile surroundings in Dublin on Saturday. For all the kind words it never felt like Southgate truly trusted him but we are told he has had a summer of renewal and he might find the shackles being removed by Carsley benefits him hugely.
Time is running out to fulfil his international potential.
Harry Maguire
Southgate’s loyalty to Maguire never faltered but that might have had something to do with the lack of viable alternatives.
The emergence of Marc Guehi in Germany, and Ezri Konsa deputising impressively when called upon, means suddenly England have options.
For Maguire that puts the pressure on, especially with Manchester United signing Matthijs de Ligt. The Dutch centre-back started against Liverpool and another prolonged absence for his club side will leave him vulnerable.
Anthony Gordon
The Newcastle United forward has most to gain from Carsley’s England audition. It was under his management that Gordon’s career turned a corner with a central role for the European Under-21 Championship win last year.
Not short of confidence – he told ITV he felt “no-one could live with me” when he was picked for the Euros in the summer, only for Southgate to barely use him – Gordon has the physical and technical attributes to become an England regular.
If Carsley has any sense, he will recognise an easy win is restoring England’s balance. Gordon on the left is logical and if that happens, he must seize his chance.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
How is it that a player of Alexander-Arnold’s rich talent ends a Euros campaign with a successful penalty kick as his most telling contribution?
Answering those kinds of questions is key to unlocking England’s potential. Having been absurdly trialled as the Three Lions’ answer to Toni Kroos in Germany – a role that left him exposed without midfield support around him – Alexander-Arnold will start in Dublin in a more familiar role on the right of defence. With Kyle Walker entering veteran status, he represents the future.
More promisingly for Alexander-Arnold, Carsley – based on his experience with the U21s – looks like a coach prepared to innovate and trust his players. Could we see his exquisite passing range and athleticism finally utilised in an England shirt?
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