Gareth Southgate has named his England squad for the final UEFA Nations League ties, but has included a number who did not merit a call-up – like Harry Maguire and Mason Mount.
The Three Lions take on Italy and Germany at the end of September to round out League A Group 3. England enter their final fixtures bottom of the standings, having drawn with the Azzurri and Die Mannschaft back this June in between defeats home and away to Hungary.
A trip to the San Siro on September 23 to face Italy and a home fixture against Germany at Wembley on the 26th are also the Three Lions’ final matches before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. So, Southgate has one last chance to run the rule over his team for the tournament.
In preparation for the World Cup, Southgate has included Brentford striker Ivan Toney and Tottenham Hotspur defender Eric Dier in his England squad for the UEFA Nations League. It is a maiden call-up at any level for Toney, while a first for Dier since back in March 2021.
Both Toney and Dier have forced their way into the Three Lions’ set-up with their form at club level. The former has struck five goals and laid on two assists over six Premier League appearances so far this term. Whilst the latter has played a leading role in Spurs’ backline.
Yet while Southgate has rewarded Toney and Dier’s form, he has called up a handful of his regular England squad despite their struggles at club level. So, with that in mind, who from the 28-player Three Lions squad announced this Thursday did not deserve to be called up?
Harry Maguire relying on Gareth Southgate loyalty with latest England squad
Manchester United defender Maguire is relying on Southgate showing loyalty toward a key part of his previous England squads. The 29-year-old has featured in all Three Lions camps since his debut in October 2017, outside of through injuries or for personal circumstances.
Never has Southgate yet axed Maguire for his lack of form at Old Trafford, despite the 46-cap centre-half rarely featuring this term. Erik ten Hag started Maguire in each of the Red Devils’ first two Premier League games, but he has only played 10 minutes in the next four.
Maguire last started in a top-flight fixture on August 13 as Brentford humbled Manchester United 4-0. He was also one of the culprits for the scoreline, having been slow to react and weak in duels. Never did Maguire show leadership whilst wearing their captain’s armband.
Gareth Southgate overlooks haphazard defending from Trent Alexander-Arnold
Southgate has overlooked some haphazard defending from Trent Alexander-Arnold during Liverpool’s recent fixtures. Never has the full-back been an elite defensive presence, but it has been a substantial issue in his game this season through leaving teammates exposed.
Alexander-Arnold is still one of the best right-backs around today with his ability to deliver threatening deliveries on the wing. But if England are to tackle their UEFA Nations League ranking and go deep into the World Cup in Qatar, Southgate will need a lot more from him.
England would not be able to rely on Alexander-Arnold in the Middle East if he continues to be caught out ball-watching. His slow reactions have also, at times, drifted into his use of the ball, with the 23-year-old not always as sharp as the 17-cap dynamo is known to be.
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Luke Shaw lucky to be in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for September
Luke Shaw can, arguably, count himself lucky to earn a recall for England’s September ties with Italy and Germany. Southgate omitted the left-back from his plans this June, and last awarded the 21-cap defender a competitive outing against Hungary in October of last year.
Yet Southgate has now overlooked Shaw falling to the bench at Manchester United when naming his latest England squad. The 27-year-old has not featured in the Premier League since the Red Devils’ defeat at Brentford with three outings as an unused substitute since.
Bees pair Aaron Hickey and Bryan Mbeumo tore Shaw apart though his last league outing, too. So much so that Ten Hag hauled Shaw off at half-time, having failed to grasp what the new Red Devils boss has wanted. He was also massively off the pace at home to Brighton.
Gareth Southgate is loyal to Mason Mount despite Chelsea and England form
Southgate has also shown loyalty in Mason Mount by naming the Chelsea midfielder in his latest England squad. The 23-year-old has been a key part of the Three Lions set-up since his debut in September 2019, despite often struggling to offer a threat for the Three Lions.
Regularly, the 31-cap technician can coast through matches without stamping his name on the action. A sight also regularly seen at Stamford Bridge this term with Mount anonymous in many of what would prove to be Thomas Tuchel’s final Premier League games in charge.
Mount has, at times, barely got on the ball or used his time in possession to good effect. A number of his shots have posed no threat, while his usefulness in the press has not always been there. Yet, even still, Southgate has included Mount in his September England squad.
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Ben Chilwell earns surprise England recall while living on breadcrumbs at Chelsea
Ben Chilwell has earned a rather surprising recall to the England squad for the Three Lions’ UEFA Nations League fixtures. Southgate has only included the left-back in two of his past five teams, whilst last offering him a consistent starting presence back in November 2019.
Yet Chilwell now has a chance to face Italy and Germany, and potentially impress enough to earn his seat on the plane to Qatar. Even though the 17-cap defender is currently living on breadcrumbs at Chelsea with 191 minutes across six games in all competitions this season.
Tuchel started Chilwell in one Premier League match prior to his sacking, with four further cameos taking his tally to 120 minutes. The 25-year-old also started against Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League, yet Graham Potter left him on the bench against RB Salzburg.
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