ENGLAND NOTEBOOK: What the presence of injured stars at Wembley tells us, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s tunnel flare-ups… plus, Harry Maguire’s golf handicap is revealed!
It was interesting to observe the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luke Shaw outside the England dressing room on Saturday evening.
Gareth Southgate has personally called in a number of injured players to check on them and reassure them that they are part of his plans, and Alexander-Arnold and Shaw will certainly be in the Germany squad if they prove they are fit.
Their chances of making the Euros start were even boosted in the defeat to Brazil as left back Ben Chilwell and midfielder Conor Gallagher did not enjoy the best of nights.
Alexander-Arnold was in the company of former Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson as they made their way to the team bus, and he was also someone whose stock may have increased without playing.
In fairness, Gallagher came forward to speak to the written press and his place in the squad, if not in the starting line-up, is all but assured.
Conor Gallagher may not have had the strongest night against Brazil, but his place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad seems assured
Kobbie Mainoo was one of the three debutants who received their first cap on Saturday evening
Another promotion to the senior team that has gone under the radar is that of Kian Noble
However, sources at rival Premier League clubs tell us that Chelsea are actively trying to sell their academy graduate this summer, with 12 months left on his contract and any transfer fee booked as ‘pure profit’ in an FFP world.
English debutants receive first caps
England debutants Anthony Gordon, Ezri Konsa and Kobbie Mainoo were handed their first caps by Southgate on Sunday.
Konsa started as a substitute before replacing Kyle Walker after 20 minutes and, picking up his red cap for the side, Southgate joked: ‘Ez came on after 20 minutes and marked Vinicius (Junior), not a bad start! ‘
But it sounded as if the warmest applause from teammates and staff was reserved for Mainoo, the 18-year-old who started the week for the Under-21s and ended it by dribbling past the Brazilians at Wembley.
Man City starlet joins senior academy
One player whose involvement in England training last week may have gone unnoticed was the rise of Kian Noble from the youth ranks.
He is a year younger than Mainoo, but when the Under-17s were at St George’s Park, the Manchester City centre-back was asked to join Southgate’s group.
Noble was suspended on Wednesday when his own age group defeated Northern Ireland 5-1. I watched that match and was particularly impressed by the midfielders of Chris Rigg (Sunderland) and Joshua King (Fulham).
Rigg, the South Tyneside-born captain wearing number 8, has a Bryan Robson-esque quality, especially given his courage, motor and sweet left foot.
Hasselbaink’s anger knew no bounds
England coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink did not hold back in the Wembley tunnel as he informed the fourth official of his displeasure with the first-half referee, counting the number of errors Brazil had made. He even gave defender Danilo a boost when he got involved.
England national coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is not afraid to share his outspoken opinions with others
But Southgate is a controlled figure who remains tight-lipped and fiercely protective of his players
It was not the first animated conversation of the evening for the Dutchman. In the moments before kick-off and leaving the pitch after the warm-up, he and Jude Bellingham were involved in a debate on the way to the tunnel. There was nothing to suggest it was anything other than a healthy discussion, but the body language of both suggested they didn’t necessarily agree.
It should be noted that Bellingham has not flown home and is still available for selection in England…
A rare glimpse of Southgate’s angry side
Compared to Hasselbaink, Southgate is not prone to outbursts of anger, especially in front of the press. He is a calm, measured statesman. The Danish broadcasters are safe in his company.
But on Friday evening, at Tottenham’s training ground, he came as close to outrage as he ever could. John Stones, who was sitting next to Southgate, was asked whether the England manager might take charge of Manchester United.
“You don’t have to answer that,” Southgate instructed, and he wasn’t joking, he turned his head and no doubt bit his lip at the same time. His distorted face betrayed his anger.
Stones replied anyway – with all the diplomacy you’d expect from Southgate – and we moved on. However, it was a telling insight into what irritates the Three Lions boss. His players are off-limits for matters relating to his own situation.
Magpies duo leave Wembley in high spirits
Two proud – not to mention relieved – observers at Wembley on Saturday were Newcastle co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
The husband-and-wife team were on hand to watch Anthony Gordon make his England debut against Magpies teammate Bruno Guimaraes.
Amanda Staveley (pictured last week) was a very relieved supporter in the Wembley stands
And given Newcastle’s current injury crisis, they would have been pleased to see that Gordon and Guimaraes were just about the only two players not to foul each other in a spirited encounter.
Maguire is excited to take golf on tour this summer
Harry Maguire is keen to have a golf simulator installed at the English training base in Germany this summer. He even wants to attack the press and recreate the dart duels from previous tournaments.
The Manchester United defender plays with an impressive handicap of four, but said last week that he cannot get close to Harry Kane, whose handicap is closer to one.
The Everton star almost gave up the game
Speaking to Jarrad Branthwaite at St George’s Park, the towering defender revealed he almost gave up football at the age of 15 after missing 18 months due to a knee problem.
The Cumbrian persevered and won a contract with hometown club Carlisle United, before moving to Everton.
If he hadn’t been a footballer, I asked, might he have followed the path of the TV advert, in which a young member of the armed forces declares: ‘I was born in Carlisle, but I was made in the Royal Navy.’
Jarrad Branthwaite didn’t mince his words when asked if he had ever considered a sea route
Branthwaite deadpanned, “No.” And that was the end of that.
The Belgian Football Association wants to play off the field at Wembley
Finally, the Belgian Football Association will lobby their English counterparts at Wembley on Tuesday for support in their bid for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
They have a joint application with the Netherlands and Germany and would like the support of the football association.
The rival bids come from Brazil and the US and the vote will take place at the FIFA Congress in Thailand in May. Maybe the Brazilians got there first on Saturday evening…