Back in favour Why Liverpool’s Oxlade-chamberlain has gone from outcast to World Cup spot
Oxlade-chamberlain to win England squad place Southgate dilemma over ‘huge choice’ in attack
Alex Oxlade-chamberlain has forced his way into England’s World Cup squad just five months after being dropped by Gareth Southgate.
The England manager said he did not “foresee a scenario” in which a number of his attacking players would not be in the final 23 for Russia – and also included Jesse Lingard, who has impressed in the past two friendly internationals, in that.
“I have a problem because I have Rashford, Sterling, Lingard, Kane, Oxlade-chamberlain, Vardy – so there is a huge choice and I have to make those choices,” Southgate said. “I don’t foresee a scenario where they don’t come to Russia but I am an England manager and I have to make those decisions.”
The return of Oxlade-chamberlain, who started both games, is noteworthy, given Southgate had left the 24-year-old out for the autumn friendlies against Germany and Brazil with the warning that he had to improve his club form, after his £35million move from Arsenal to Liverpool, and was also unlikely to claim a place in his favoured position of central midfield.
However, injury to Jack Wilshere – again, which surely rules him out – and Ruben Loftus-cheek, who should still be selected, and Harry Winks not featuring for Tottenham Hotspur, has given Oxlade-chamberlain his chance in his preferred role and he has taken it.
Southgate revealed he had started a series of conversations with players to explain their chances of making his final squad.
He is unlikely to name an initial 35-man squad, as he can do under Fifa rule changes, on May 14 but in- stead will select his preferred 23, plus around five players on standby. England face Nigeria on June 2 and Costa Rica on June 7 in their last two warm-up matches but submit their final squad list on June 4.
“If you name 28 and they aren’t sure… but if you name 23 and five on standby – which [former England manager] Sven [Goran Eriksson] did well – then everyone knows where they sit,” Southgate said. “Those on standby have a chance but they come into the camp knowing their role. If you have 28 or 30 who think they might have a chance then there’s a lot of uncertainty and anxiety during the games. For me, it’s much better to have the 23 secured and go from there.”
Southgate added: “Already, across this week, guys would have a good idea of where they sit. It’s about managing expectations. There are some that have worked with us for quite a while and know the reality is they will be part of the squad.
“There’s others that know after the conversations I’ve had with them that they are just on the edge of it. I think that’s important because it doesn’t come as a huge surprise to anybody. I’ve got to keep those conversations going over the next few weeks. Letting people know how I see it so in the end it doesn’t come as dramatically to people.” Among the squad is still expected to be Joe Hart, but only as third-choice goalkeeper having lost his No1 status. “I’ve been really straight with him throughout,” Southgate said of Hart. “I spoke to him three weeks ago before he was in West Ham’s team and told him he would be in the squad on the basis of what he’s done for us.
“He’s a good leader to have around and he’s understood everything completely. He’s played that role really well. If you spoke to the other goalkeepers you would find they would be appreciative of the way he has trained with them and worked with them just before the matches. He is everything you would hope a senior player would be.”
Southgate reiterated that he would decide his first-choice goalkeeper – and also his captain, with Harry Kane expected to take that role – when he names his squad. Jordan Pickford is the favourite.
England have come out of the last two matches with significant boosts – not least with the success of the experiment of using Kyle Walker as part of a back three.
Southgate has also been impressed by Raheem Sterling’s performances in a more central attacking role and likened it to the way he played for Liverpool when they almost won the title in 2013-14 and he featured alongside Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. “He had a little spell at Liverpool where he was behind Suarez and Sturridge, running and dribbling through he middle of the park,” Southgate said.
“He is playing with confidence, speaking with confidence and I think we have a lot of these lads: Raheem, Dele [Alli], Jesse, they are expressive players and they need to feel freedom on the pitch.”