[Sport] England 2-1 Poland: What shape are Gareth Southgate's side in?

[Mr.Talha]

 

The England manager and his players do not deserve much criticism after moving into pole position in their group, but that comes with the caveat that there will be much sterner tests to come in the months ahead.

So with the delayed European Championship on the horizon, what sort of shape are England in right now?

England need late Maguire strike to beat Poland
Rice and Mount showing their class
The answer is they are looking promising - but they remain a work in progress in some areas.

Southgate is presiding over a talented, youthful squad and there is enough attacking weaponry to test the best in the Euros, led by that virtual guarantee of goals in Harry Kane.

Chelsea's Mason Mount is a top-class talent while West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has moved his game on to another level this season and will be the fulcrum of England's midfield this summer.

Rice is maturing at such a rate that he is now indispensable. Yes, these qualifiers may not be the most exacting examinations but he has also looked a class act at club level under manager David Moyes this season.

Phil Foden once again demonstrated his pedigree and will push for a start, while Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips will hope he has done enough to get a chance as a defensive midfield anchor if Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson fails to recover full fitness after groin surgery.

And this is without Aston Villa talisman Jack Grealish, so impressive for England recently - although he may fear his unfortunate injury absence may have allowed others to just nudge ahead of him once more in Southgate's pecking order.

England's sudden lack of ideas and inertia in the second half, with Southgate surprisingly resisting the temptation to change personnel even as the victory threatened to slip away, certainly jogged the memory of how Grealish demanded the ball constantly and probed so urgently in his recent appearances.