Rob Green told Sky Sports during their live coverage of England U21’s defeat to Switzerland on Thursday afternoon that Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe was ‘quiet’ during the game and Eddie Nketiah looked ‘frustrated’.
It was a damaging defeat for England’s youngsters, who despite possessing such great talent, failed to even hurt the Swiss, as Green made it clear that if the Three Lions continue to play like they did today then they will be going home.
Two Arsenal academy products – Smith Rowe and Nketiah – started the game, with both being subbed in the second half by Aidy Boothroyd.
But former England goalkeeper, Green issued a pretty brutal verdict on England and the Arsenal’s duo’s display today, including Burnley’s Dwight McNeil.
“They (England) play like that and they are out,” said Green. “It’s plain and simple. You cannot do that.
“The stats speak for themselves. A lot of passes. You are saying the creative influences and what the game plan is. It seemed like ‘get the ball to Callum Hudson-Odoi and hoped he did something’.
“You look at the creative influences. Dwight McNeil looked lost where he was playing. Smith-Rowe was quiet. You have got Nketiah, he was frustrated.
“And others in there. Who created anything? Who did anything?”
Nketiah’s goalscoring record for England’s U21’s is pretty impressive, but he didn’t even get a sniff today.
That’s not down to him but the system, the tactics and the manager not getting the best out of the high amount of talent he has at his disposal.
That was proven during England U21’s previous major tournament when they were knocked out of the group stages… it seems as though they are heading the same way.
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