Stevie Nicol questioned the performances of Arsenal and Chelsea duo Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling following England’s goalless draw against the USA at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, as he told ESPN.
Both players, who enjoyed a fruitful start to life in Doha when England put six past Iran, were brought back down to earth as the USA outplayed the English, from top to bottom, despite both teams walking away with a point.
US-based pundit and Liverpool legend Nicol was critical of how Gareth Southgate’s side attacked and questioned what Arsenal’s Hale-End star Saka and Chelsea’s summer signing Sterling do when they aren’t playing well.
Well, both Saka and Sterling were subbed off against the USA without having a real effect on the game and it will be interesting to see if they maintain their place ahead of the final Group B game against Wales on Tuesday.
Either way, Nicol isn’t too impressed by what he is seeing from England and their attacking players.
“You can look at the defence and say ‘they defended well’,” said Nicol. “The truth is that this US side struggles to score goals. They don’t know who their centre-forward is.
“There are so many questions. You can look at it from the perspective that they are in a good spot. But going forward, what does Sterling do? What does Saka do, when they aren’t at their best? I don’t remember them doing anything against the USA.”
SOUTHGATE TACTICS OR ENGLAND PLAYERS?
After England thrashed Iran, the country was on cloud nine, or in this case cloud six, and the feeling that they can go all the way in Qatar.
It was a performance full of flair, might, power and speed, but against the US, they were brought back down to earth and the criticisms of old were back on the table.
Is that Southgate’s defensive-first tactics holding back a plethora of attacking talent? Or do the players need to take more responsibility?
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