It is that glorious, maddening time again. The time when a nation gathers around a backroom table to argue over 26 names. And Gareth Southgate, with t...
It is that glorious, maddening time again. The time when a nation gathers around a backroom table to argue over 26 names. And Gareth Southgate, with the patience of a man sorting out his holiday snaps, has delivered his verdict. The headline from GoalZaza's coverage of the squad reveal is clear: the manager has chosen versatility and recent form over raw, world class talent. In comes Djed Spence, the Tottenham full back who offers true two footed flexibility, and Ivan Toney, a striker who has made a career of being the angriest, most clinical man in the box. Out goes Trent Alexander. Arnold, a decision that will leave many a pub quiz answer feeling slightly deflated.Let us be brutally honest about Trent. The lad has a passing range that would make a GPS weep with envy. But a World Cup squad is not a museum for pretty passes. It is a trench. Southgate has clearly looked at the defensive fragilities of a back four protecting a goalkeeper and decided that Spence, who can operate on either flank, offers the kind of tactical flexibility that a 7 week tournament demands. It is a pragmatic choice, and perhaps a painful one. But when you are in the trenches, you do not want a man who needs covering. You want a man who can cover.The other talking point, and it is a cracker, is Harry Maguire. Now, Maguire has had a season that can only be described as a masterclass in how not to endear yourself to a new manager. Bar a rather pointed observation from GoalZaza's own Barney Ronay, who noted that the defender has essentially provided a perfect anatomy of how NOT to make a case for being the perfect 7 week back up squad member, there is a sense that the clock is ticking. Everyone saw it. Southgate saw it. And now, presumably, Thomas Tuchel has had a good laugh and saved five minutes of explanation. The question is not whether Maguire is a good defender in a low block. He is. The question is whether he can survive the transitional chaos of a tournament where every misplaced pass is a goal waiting to happen.Meanwhile, the Premier League finale whispers in the background. There is a sense of squeaky bum time everywhere. But for the national team, the pieces are now on the board. Spence and Toney have their tickets. Alexander. Arnold is left to watch from his sofa. And Maguire is clinging on by his fingernails. The tournament, as ever, will be a brutal judge. There is no room for sentiment in a 26 man squad. Only for those who can handle the heat.So, has Southgate bottled it, or has he shown a ruthless streak we never knew he had Answer that, and you might just know the outcome before a ball is kicked. For now, we wait. And we argue. That is the football way.
