Ruthless Gareth Southgate times his moment right to shed layers of loyalty

Farewell, then, and thanks for all the almost-but-not-quites. From a rational point of view there shouldn’t be much to say about, old bean. And being rational has never really had much to do with it. More than ever in the age of tribal celebrity and online Southgate-truthers, every call and every cut must be unpacked for its wider significance, even when this adds up to little more than rationalising two entirely sensible decisions.

Henderson first then. This is a significant cut, if only because of things that now lie in the past. Henderson won 53 of his 81 caps under Southgate. He has been vice-captain, played in a final and a semi, and has been a key part of the Gareth-era shedding of the old cloak of never-ending fear. As for Rashford, again he just doesn’t deserve to be in the squad. He has 57 caps under Southgate and has been given a genuine run. But England have real talent in his position. Nine players in this group have scored more goals than him this season. His dropping has already been described as brutal, but he hasn’t always been a starter. His England career has instead been composed of moments, lacking in any real shape.

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