Dear God.
England reached the semi-final of the World Cup for the first time since 1990 but found Croatia too dogged to handle.
Heading into the third place playoff against Belgium, before most of the players get four weeks off, ITV’s panel discussed what England needed to do to become genuine contenders at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.
Ian Wright, Gary Neville and Lee Dixon were back on duty and they were once again joined by Roy Keane in the ITV studio. The main topic ahead of kick-off revolved around the players that could add to Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Over at the stadium, in St Petersburg, former England player and manager Glenn Hoddle yearned for a ball-playing, pass-picking star like Kevin De Bruyne or Andrea Pirlo.
Back in the studio, Wright suggested three players that could make the difference.
- Ross Barkley (Chelsea, age 24, England caps – 22)
- Jack Wilshere (West Ham, age 26, England caps – 34)
- Lewis Cook (Bournemouth, age 21, England caps – 1)
Wright holds the biggest flame for Barkley, who missed out on the England squad after enduring a poor season with Chelsea. He said:
“He must be looking at this World Cup… a few years ago, Ross Barkley was touted as someone who could be the next main guy in that England midfield.
“When you look at his ability and what he can do, he said be thinking, ‘I should be there’. You’re hoping that that will get him going a bit.
“There’s Lewis Cook and you’ve got Jack Wilshere going to West Ham now. Hopefully that will get him going because we need that player; someone like that. I like Lewis Cook. He can emerge as well.”
As noted above, Barkley and Wilshere already have 56 England caps (and four goals) between them. Wilshere made his England debut in 2010 and Barkley had his debut outing in 2013. Both were at the 2014 World Cup when Roy Hodgson’s side were knocked out in the group stages.
Neither of the men have fully convinced in an England jersey and neither were close to making Southgate’s final squad. Cook has potential, sure, but thinking Wilshere or Barkley will be the answer is a rocky road that England should avoid.
If Barkley and Wilshere can stay fit and hold down regular starting spots for their clubs, over a long period, then they can certainly be considered for recalls. Expecting them to be the key to unlocking England’s cup-winning potential – five fruitless years on – is the wrong way to go.
