New Delhi: England have just finished their group stages of the UEFA Euro 2024 with another lacklustre group stage performance at a major International tournament as they won just a single game in what was a relatively easier group. Manager Gareth Southgate has drawn the ire of many passionate England fans and analysts alike for the team’s uninspiring and dull performances, with many fans calling for the Englishman to be sacked.
Southgate took over the managerial reins back in 2016, taking over from Sam Allardyce’s ill-fated one-game-long tenure and has gone on to become England’s longest-serving manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, managing the national side for over eight years now. While the side has grown considerably under the 53-year-old, a lack of silverware in his tenure has long been a sour point of his rein.
Speculation about Gareth Southgate’s future seems to be at an all-time high, as the manager himself stated before UEFA Euro 2024 that this could be his last tournament with the national team if he fails to win the trophy. It seems to be the right time to see how his starting XI from his first game in charge, a 2-0 win against Malta in the qualifying rounds of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, compares to the latest squad he put out for his side’s 0-0 draw against Slovenia in UEFA Euro 2024.
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart (2016)/Jordan Pickford (2024)
Joe Hart and Jordan Pickford look on during an England training session at the Tottenham Hotspur training ground on October 10, 2016 in Enfield, England. (Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
The then-Torino goalkeeper was Southgate’s first choice back in 2016 but that changed soon after. Hart’s club career was already winding down back then and that soon began to reflect in his International appearances as well. The former Manchester City keeper kept his place in the side for Southgate’s initial games in charge but soon after, he was replaced by the man in goal in Southgate’s latest game in charge, Jordan Pickford.
Ever since his breakthrough season at Sunderland, Pickford was tipped for success and following his debut for the Three Lions in 2017, the 30-year-old has established himself as Southgate’s first-choice man in between the sticks. Pickford has become an integral member of Southgate’s squad and in the match against Slovenia, he broke Peter Shilton’s record for most clean sheets by an English keeper at major tournaments, with his 11th shutout in 22 appearances.
Right Back: Kyle Walker (2016 and 2024)
Gareth Southgate, Head Coach of England, speaks with Kyle Walker of England after the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on June 25, 2024, in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
One of only two players who made the starting XI for both these matches, Kyle Walker is still very much a part of Southgate’s plans just as he was when the English manager started his tenure. Walker has gone from strength to strength after that game against Malta, as just a year later he was sealing a mega-money move to Manchester City.
Walker took to City like a duck to water and went on to become an indispensable member of both Manchester City and the England national team and is still the first choice at both his sides, making over 300 appearances for City and close to 100 appearances for the national team. Not only is Walker an important player cause of his performances, but he is a serial winner with Manchester City and his winning mentality is extremely important to this England squad devoid of trophies.
Centre Back: John Stones (2016 and 2024)
John Stones of England runs with the ball during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on June 25, 2024, in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Eddie Keogh – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Moving on to the other player who was present in both the starting lineups, another Manchester City defender John Stones. The ex-Everton defender was a new signing struggling to live up to his price tag at the Etihad when he was named in the squad against Malta and just seemed like another defender in the long list of average England defenders.
However, a few years later, his career transformed at Manchester City and he became a first-team starter for the club. Finally showing the potential he showed at Everton, Stones has gone on to represent England at every major tournament under Gareth Southgate and is amongst his experienced defenders in the current national team set-up.
Centre Back: Gary Cahill (2016)/Marc Guehi (2024)
Marc Guehi of England reacts during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between England and Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on June 25, 2024 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Partnering with Stones are two defenders with a history with Chelsea in both of the mentioned games. In 2016, for the game against Malta, Southgate decided to start then-Chelsea defender Gary Cahill alongside John Stones. Cahill was a stalwart for both club and country before he decided to hang up his boots in 2022. The now 38-year-old defender went on to make over 50 appearances for England, representing the country in both the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In the game against Slovenia, it was another Chelsea defender who left the Blues to join Crystal Palace, Marc Guehi who was partnering with Stones. Guehi has managed to establish himself as a starter for England in the absence of Harry Maguire and his performances seem to indicate that he might go on to cement his place in the England squad.
Left Back: Ryan Bertrand (2016)/Kieran Trippier (2024)
Ryan Bertrand and Kieran Trippier of England in action during an England training session at St Georges Park on November 9, 2017 in Burton-upon-Trent, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
The first-choice left-back for Southgate against Malta was Ryan Bertrand who had been impressing at Southampton at the time and this was one of his only 19 appearances for the national team. However, the emergence of Luke Shaw, another player who made his name at Southampton, effectively put an end to Ryan Bertrand’s England career.
Kieran Trippier was starting on the left-hand side of the defence in the absence of Luke Shaw as the Manchester United left-back hasn’t yet recovered from his season-ending injury. Trippier has often started on the left when Shaw isn’t available showcasing Shaw’s importance to Southgate’s set-up.
Centre Mid: Jordan Henderson (2016)/Conor Gallagher (2024)
Conor Gallagher of England shakes hands with Jordan Henderson during the international friendly match between England and Switzerland at Wembley Stadium on March 26, 2022, in London, England. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Jordan Henderson almost became the third player to represent England in both these games, if only he hadn’t moved to Saudi Arabia for half of 2023. The former Liverpool captain became a key player under Southgate making 57 of his 81 England appearances under him. He went on to represent England in six major International tournaments and had he stayed in Europe after leaving the Reds, this would’ve been his seventh.
In the absence of Henderson, Southgate tried to use Trent Alexander Arnold in the first two games but opted to go for a player similar to Henderson in the game against Slovenia, bringing in Chelsea’s stand-in captain Conor Gallagher. A workhorse midfielder like Henderson, Gallagher has similar attributes to him as well as both are tough tackling midfielders that roam around all over the pitch.
Centre Mid: Dele Alli (2016)/Declan Rice (2024)
Declan Rice and Dele Alli during the 2020 UEFA European Championships Group A qualifying match between England and Czech Republic at Wembley Stadium on March 22, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Two players who made their name at a London club are up next as Dele Alli partnered with Henderson in 2016 and Declan Rice partnered with Gallagher in 2024. Both players announced themselves on the footballing stage at their boyhood clubs, MK Dons and West Ham, before going on to star for North London sides as Alli joined Tottenham and Rice is starring for Arsenal.
Alli was Southgate’s creative lynchpin in this squad and was showing all the signs of becoming a world-beater for the Three Lions just as Declan Rice is doing right now. While Rice isn’t as creative a player as Alli, he’s transitioned more into that role ever since joining Arsenal, becoming more of a box-to-box player.
Attacking Mid: Wayne Rooney (2016)/Jude Bellingham (2024)
Derby County’s Wayne Rooney (left) and Birmingham City’s Jude Bellingham battle for the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match at St. Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium, Birmingham. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
There’s a stark difference in choices here as Wayne Rooney, a way past his prime striker was being started by Southgate in the midfield against Malta to utilize his footballing brains whereas a young exciting talent like Jude Bellingham was the starting man in the attacking midfield position against Slovenia.
The current Plymouth Argyle manager announced his retirement from International football shortly after this game, making only three more appearances post this game. Bellingham will hope for a better end to his International career, many, many years from now hopefully.
Bellingham has become an important player for both club and country and has been starring for the national team ever since making since debut back in 2020, making over 30 appearances for the team in such a short while and scoring four times.
Right Wing: Theo Walcott (2016)/Bukayo Saka (2024)
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka and Southampton’s Theo Walcott after the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. (Photo by Peter Cziborra/PA Images via Getty Images)
Two Arsenal wingers were starting on the right in both these games. Both wingers got stardom at a very young age and both had an abundance of pace to offer. Walcott was starting on the right against Malta and this was one of his three caps for England under Southgate as he had lost his touch shortly after Southgate took the role.
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka was starting on the right against Slovenia. He has gone on to become a first-team regular under the 53-year-old, as he’s made over 30 appearances in just four years. Saka has all the abilities to go on and become the undisputed starting right-winger for years to come in the England squad.
Left Wing: Jesse Lingard (2016)/Phil Foden (2024)
Jesse Lingard and Phil Foden of England celebrate after the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Andorra and England at Estadio Nacional on October 09, 2021, in Andorra la Vella, Andorra. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Jesse Lingard was having his best year in football in 2016 and looked nailed on to be a starter for England for years to come. His start against Malta was his debut in the national team jersey but in the next eight years would only make 31 more appearances for his country. He has fewer appearances than what Saka has already managed in half that time.
Against Slovenia, it was another academy product of a Manchester club, as Phil Foden was starting on the left. Foden is an integral player at Manchester City but has failed to produce that form in an England jersey as evidenced by just four goals in 37 appearances for the Three Lions.
Striker: Daniel Sturridge (2016)/Harry Kane (2024)
Harry Kane is brought in for Daniel Sturridge during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group B match between Slovakia and England at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on June 20, 2016, in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
The man who scored the first goal of the Gareth Southgate era, ex-Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge started up front for England against Malta in 2016. The former Liverpool striker was plagued by injuries throughout his career and could only represent his country merely 26 times, scoring 8 goals in the process, one of which was scored against Malta.
It was another striker who used to play for a London-based club that started up-front against Slovenia in Harry Kane. The current Bayern Munich striker has been England’s leading man ever since he broke onto the stage making almost 100 appearances for the national team. He was handed the captaincy by Gareth Southgate, signalling his trust in the former Spurs striker.
It’s been eight years since Gareth Southgate took over the managerial duty for England. Dive in to find out how his team against Slovenia compares to the side that started against Malta back in his first game as England manager back in 2016. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
