England World Cup squad selector: Gareth Southgate's defensive options for Russia 2018
In our latest England World Cup squad selector we focus on Gareth Southgate's defensive options and why three at the back looks the way forward.
Gareth Southgate’s selection headaches start at the heart of England’s defence, where he looks to be settling on playing three at the back at the World Cup in Russia.
With no outstanding centre back partnerships developing since Euro 2016, England have had a cocktail of centre backs playing over the World Cup qualifying period.
England World Cup betting
Although Southgate has deployed a back four for most of that, he played a back three in Lithuania and tellingly played a three-man backline in November’s showcase friendlies against Brazil and Germany – both resulting in clean sheets.
The three-man defence may offer strength in numbers if Southgate is not overly convinced by his centre backs, but it also plays into England’s strength at wing-back with Kyle Walker a certain starter and Danny Rose and Ryan Bertrand both vying for the start on the left.
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Ashley Young is now an interesting option for Southgate to consider though, he has undoubted quality going forward and after the plaudits he received for bottling up Mohamed Salah have not gone unnoticed.
Centre half is more uncertain. Although John Stones seems to be an automatic choice, there are spots up for grabs alongside him with Harry Maguire the favourite of the rest at 1/4 to line-up in England’s first game in Volgograd.
To start England’s first World Cup game (Odds via Sky Bet odds)
- Walker - 1/6
- Bertrand - 4/7
- Rose - 11/8
- Young - 7/1
Phil Jones and Gary Cahill are next in the betting despite not being in Southgate’s latest squad as they, along with Chris Smalling, could be falling out of the England picture altogether to be replaced by a new breed.
Liverpool’s Joe Gomez played in both of November’s friendlies and has impressed for the Reds at right-back but Jurgen Klopp insists his future lies at centre-half – a position on the right of a three could be right up his street.
James Tarkowski has been part of Burnley’s stingy defence and his career has come on leaps and bounds while Michael Keane’s stock has fallen since his move to Everton.
Tarkowski may be a relative outsider to start but a couple of good displays in these friendlies could well open the door for him.
To start England’s first World Cup game (Sky Bet odds)
- Stones - 1/6
- Maguire - 1/4
- Jones - 11/10
- Cahill - 9/4
- Gomez - 9/4
- Tarkowski - 3/1
As ever, it’s a case of finding the right blend at the back for Southgate but in Stones, Maguire and Gomez he has three players all comfortable on the ball, while probably having the added protection of Eric Dier sitting just in front.
Tarkowski offers a more robust option that Southgate could utilise if he plays well in the friendlies, while Dier himself can operate in a back three to muddy the waters even further.
Settling on a formation is the first step, with players able to slot in from there, but it looks as though the three-man backline will be the way Southgate plays going forward.
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