Seeking midfield maestros
Just three months after the bitter disappointment of losing a first World Cup semifinal for 28 years, England visit Croatia on Friday in the Nations League seeking not only revenge, but also a long-term solution to a familiar shortcoming.
For all the progress by the Three Lions in a glorious Russian summer, a familiar lack of midfield authority ultimately undid England as Croatia’s Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic took control of their semifinal to come from a goal down in Moscow.
It was a similar story when Spain came to Wembley in September to puncture England’s feel-good factor by dominating the ball in a 2-1 Nations League win.
For all the progress made by the Three Lions in a glorious Russian summer, a familiar lack of midfield authority ultimately undid England as Croatia's Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic took control of their semifinal to come from a goal down in Moscow
A run to the last four with the third-youngest squad at the World Cup raised expectations of what is to come from a richly talented generation under Gareth Southgate’s tutelage.
But Southgate has gone even younger in his search for the midfield maestro he believes England have lacked since the days of Paul Gascoigne.
Jadon Sancho, 18, and Mason Mount, 19, who made moves to get more first-team football, and James Maddison, who jumped to the Premier League, are all rewarded with a first call-up.
Sancho has lit up the Bundesliga since making the brave decision to turn down Pep Guardiola’s pleas to keep him at Manchester City and join Borussia Dortmund last year.
Compared to Neymar by his former England U16 coach Dan Micciche, Sancho has more assists than any player in Europe’s top five leagues with nine this season, including one in the Champions League.
“I believe in myself, so moving to Germany didn’t faze me,” Sancho said as he faced the media glare for the first time in an England shirt.
“I’m a bit tricky, direct, confident obviously. I believe in myself in one-versus-one situations.”
Maddison and Mount are not yet playing at that level, but they too have shunned the glamour of the top six sides in the Premier League to ensure more minutes on the field.
Wanted by Liverpool as a teenager, Maddison instead moved to Norwich before joining Leicester to join two World Cup squad members, Harry Maguire and Jamie Vardy.
“I looked at the Leicester squad and saw Harry and Jamie as regulars in the England setup.
“I thought that is where I want to be, that is where I want to get to,” Maddison, who has scored three goals and provided two assists in eight Premier League appearances, said.
Mount is still a Chelsea player, but after scoring 13 goals on loan at Vitesse Arnhem last season, is enjoying another fruitful loan spell with Derby under former England and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
“He can be top, top level because he’s 19 and plays with ability and quality. Technically he’s brilliant,” Lampard said.
Mount has already shown his ability in an England shirt as he was player of the tournament in winning the 2017 U19 European Championships.
Sancho got the same award at the European U17 championships in 2017, as well as being part of the squad that won the U17 World Cup, although his participation was limited after being recalled by Dortmund halfway through the tournament to play for the first team.
“The growth in England is crazy,” Sancho said.
“There’s a lot of great young players out there. They’re so determined to play.
“The Champions League is the greatest stage, so I hope the young players reach their potential and enjoy it too.”
England teams have also won the 2017 U20 World Cup and the prestigious U21 Toulon tournament for the past three years.
The trick for Southgate, having recently signed a new contract until 2022, is to harness that potential into a future Modric.