Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka labelled Chelsea defender Reece James as a ‘baller’ on Instagram, after England’s mistake-ridden 3-3 draw against Germany in the UEFA Nations League on Monday night.
Chelsea’s academy product started at right wing-back for his country, with Saka, who was a left wing-back against Italy, dropping to the bench for this dead-rubber encounter.
It was a dead rubber game by name, but there was big pressure on England going into that game because of their form and the fact that this was the last match before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
After another lacklustre first-half display, things started to pick up after the break, not for Gareth Southgate’s men, but for their visitors who scored a quick-fire double, including a stunning curling effort from Kai Havertz.
Around that time, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and Arsenal Premier League table-topper, Saka, were introduced into the action and they turned the game on its head.
Luke Shaw started the fightback, before Mount and Saka combined for the Chelsea star to score a brilliant first-time goal, before Harry Kane’s penalty was cancelled out by another Havertz goal.
SAKA AND JAMES HEADING TO QATAR…
There has been a lot of talk around Gareth Southgate’s picks and which players he should or shouldn’t be selecting.
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire is taking centre stage in all that drama, but two players who don’t need to worry about their places for Qatar are Saka and James.
They will get that golden plane ticket, it’s just a case of whether they will be starting the opening group game encounter against Iran.
Well, Saka proved against Germany that when you put the Hale-End star in his correct position, then he will cook, whilst James is seemingly ahead of Kieran Trippier, he might benefit from Kyle Walker possibly playing in a back three, whilst Trent Alexander-Arnold just simply isn’t fancied by Southgate.
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