It's been nine years since then-English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke set the national team the bold target of winning the 2022 World Cup.
While that aim may not feel as fanciful as it once did, the issues Dyke said had held England back for nearly 50 years, since its only triumph in 1966, remain just as pertinent ahead of Monday’s opening Group B game against Iran.
“The problem is serious, very serious,” he said in a speech that has been proven correct, not least because England has so far met or surpassed his targets in spite of ongoing concerns still not being fully addressed. Nine years ago, Dyke spoke of only 32% of English players in the starting lineups of Premier League clubs. The picture painted by Southgate when announcing his 26-man squad last week was no more encouraging.
Not a single player that featured in the final of the under-20 World Cup-winning team is part of Southgate’s squad in Qatar. Only Phil Foden and Conor Gallagher have made it from the U17-winning team. A prodigious talent, who is equally as clinical with either foot, he looked as exciting as any English prospect since Wayne Rooney. But the forward, who has been charged with attempted rape, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault, has not played since January after being suspended by United.
Likened to City great David Silva as he progressed at club level, for the national team he is widely regarded as the player England has missed since Paul Gascoigne in the 1990s. Yet Southgate has failed to find a settled position for the 22-year-old forward in either midfield or attack.
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