25/04 - 20:00
We're now exactly a week away from Gareth Southgate naming his 26-man squad for this summer's European Championships, so it's a perfect time to look at some of the headaches and selection issues facing the Three Lions boss on the eve of the competition.
In this article, Playmaker's James Shearman hones in on England's defensive dilemmas - and identifies the key statistics that could help sway Southgate's thinking ahead of his side's opener against Croatia on 13 June.
There is a case to be made for all three goalkeepers: Pickford performed well at the 2018 World Cup, Henderson starts for the nation’s second-best team and Pope has been consistently good for three years.
However, the one stat that separates the trio is man of the match awards. Pope (6) is averaging a match-winning performance every six games, as Burnley survive another campaign in the top flight. This goes to show that the 29-year-old is often carrying his side to a result, something that cannot be said for Pickford or Henderson.
So, when England come up against tougher opposition, should they progress to the latter stages, the keeper Southgate arguably should rely on to counter the threat of Europe’s elite forwards is Nick Pope.
The left back position is arguably the most obvious in the entire squad, with Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell facing little to no competition after James Justin’s season-ending injury. There are no standout differences in the pair's defensive capabilities, so we’ve turned to chance creation to separate them.
Shaw has been a revelation this season and with two holding midfielders in the side, his crossing could be vital in opening up the opposition.
Add in the fact that Chilwell has spent half of the season as a wing-back, and Shaw's case for a starting berth at the Euros seems a strong one.
Whichever defensive configuration Southgate opts for, England fans will worry about a lack of pace to combat the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Romelu Lukaku. Well, step up Kyle Walker.
The three-time Premier League winner is not only one of the fastest players in the country, but also the world. He offers a perfect solution to the problem posed by rapid counter attacks.
As Southgate’s men progress into the opposition’s half, the danger of leaving the centre-backs exposed becomes greater, but the Manchester City man offers valuable cover.
Playing out from the back is almost a prerequisite for top teams nowadays and is something that Southgate is keen to implement.
England will have superior talent in the majority of fixtures, too, so a possession-based approach makes sense as they look to dominate games. Therefore, the most comfortable ball-playing defenders, John Stones and Harry Maguire, should be at the heart of the backline.
The stats prove they are the most willing to play shorter, riskier passes rather than going long, laying the platform for England's more advanced players to build upon.
Moreover, their existing relationships with Walker and Shaw, respectively, give them another advantage.
The #ThreeLions are bound for @Boro!
— England (@England) April 7, 2021
