England’s Lack of Experience A Gamble?

Having named his England squad for the 2018 World Cup, manager Gareth Southgate was quick to defend his selection by saying, “I don’t see it as a gamble and I don’t think being free of inhibition is gambling.”

Young Squad

Southgate was responding to the fact he has selected a very young squad, the third youngest ever to be sent to a World Cup by England and there is also a lack of experience.  Only one man, Gary Cahill, has more than 40 caps to his name and the Chelsea defender is considered fortunate by many onlookers to be included in the squad.

The England squad have an average of 19.5 caps between them and one player, Trent Alexander-Arnold is yet to play a match for his country.

Other players classed as surprise inclusions are goalkeeper Nick Pope and on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder, Ruben Loftus-Cheek.  The fact a player, who is not considered good enough for his parent club, Chelsea, has been picked in the England squad for the World Cup sums up the problems facing Southgate in terms of selection.

Loftus-Cheek has been inspirational for Crystal Palace, especially in the second half of the season as they moved away from the relegation zone.  However, he has N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko ahead of him in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and this is one of the many issues facing the England manager.

“Maybe it is brave to take players without the number of caps, but we have to give these guys belief,” said Southgate, before continuing, “We pick from 33% of the league, which is quite a unique situation, but there is excitement with where we are going.”

Nothing to Lose

Experienced players, including goalkeeper Joe Hart have missed out but England have failed to reach expectations in recent tournaments and their defeat to Iceland in the 2016 European Championship was hugely embarrassing.  So, in that respect, Southgate has very little to lose.

One man who can perhaps count himself lucky to be included in the squad is Danny Welbeck.  The Arsenal forward has scored 10 goals in 40 games this season and on the face of his club form, he is not playing particularly well.  However, Welbeck has scored 15 goals in 37 appearances for England and although he is unlikely to start a match at the World Cup, the former Manchester United man makes for an interesting option off the bench.

England have failed to get beyond the quarter-final of the World Cup in their previous five attempts, with arguably better teams.  The Three Lions are 11/4 with Ladbrokes to reach the semi-final but with the likes of Germany, Spain, Brazil, France and Belgium boasting what look like a stronger group of players, England are going to have their work cut out in Russia to reach the latter stages.