The advent of the Nations League means international friendlies have never felt so meaningless, but if Gareth Southgate’s latest squad has underlined anything, it is that performances for England matter.
Last week, the England manager denied suggestions he was guilty of “double standards” by picking out-of-form Harry Maguire while leaving out his Manchester United team-mates Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, who have also struggled for consistency this season.
Southgate, though, is nothing if not loyal to the players who have previously delivered for England, particularly his veterans of Russia 2018.
There was never a chance he would drop Maguire in a World Cup year — despite compelling claims from Eric Dier, Fikayo Tomori, Max Kilman and others — because he has never let him down when it mattered.
For the same reason, Southgate named a half-fit Jordan Henderson in the summer Euros squad, started Raheem Sterling in the first game of the tournament and has never appeared to question Jordan Pickford’s position as No1.
The friendlies against Switzerland and Ivory Coast may be of little overall significance, but Southgate is looking for players he can trust for England — and good performances over the coming few days could go a long way to determining his squad for Qatar.
The process of whittling down the names for next winter’s World Cup will be unlike any previous major tournament because the finals fall bang in the middle of next season, and England may have as little as a week to prepare for their opening game.
Southgate will therefore have to strike a careful balance between players in the best form and fitness and individuals he knows can perform in an England shirt. The matches tomorrow and on Tuesday will help inform his opinion, with just two more camps after this one before he names a provisional squad.
This week’s preparations have been disrupted by a spate of pull-outs, with Bukayo Saka the latest to withdraw after a positive Covid test. Goalkeepers Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone, right-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James and striker Tammy Abraham have also withdrawn through injury, with Tyrick Mitchell, Kyle Walker-Peters, Ollie Watkins and Fraser Forster coming in.
Saka was not replaced yesterday, leaving Southgate with a squad of 24 players, including uncapped defenders Mitchell, Walker-Peters and Marc Guehi.
The England manager has said he would not have picked anyone who did not have a chance of making the plane to Qatar, and for the young trio the double-header offers a huge opportunity.
Guehi, in particular, should sense an opening at centre-half, with Maguire struggling, John Stones barely featuring for Manchester City and doubts over the international quality of Conor Coady and Tyrone Mings. The same is true for Arsenal’s Ben White, the most in-form of Southgate’s options.
When everyone is fit, Walker-Peters will surely slide down the pecking order, but the former Tottenham right-back is all but guaranteed to feature during this camp, with Kieran Trippier also injured and Kyle Walker rested.
There is less competition at left-back, and Mitchell — who began his career at non-League AFC Wembley, in the shadow of the national stadium — can stake a claim this camp, particularly with Ben Chilwell sidelined long-term.
The 22-year-old is likely to make his debut against the Ivorians on Tuesday, when he could come up against Crystal Palace team-mate Wilfried Zaha.
Pickford may be relieved at Ramsdale’s withdrawal, with the Arsenal keeper in fine form. Opportunity knocks for Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher and James Ward-Prowse due to the absence of Kalvin Phillips, creating a space alongside Declan Rice in midfield.
Despite the success of the Rice-Phillips pivot at the Euros, a more progressive midfield is considered one area for improvement if England are to seriously challenge in the Gulf.
Emile Smith Rowe is also looking to force his way into contention as an alternative to Mason Mount, or perhaps Jack Grealish or Phil Foden in the front three.
Harry Kane is unlikely to start in both games, so Watkins must take his chance after being picked ahead of fit-again Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Patrick Bamford.
