Jack Wilshere worries that England manager Gareth Southgate is being pressured to make choices that are out of character.
Final night, the Three Lions emerged victorious from Group C and advanced to the final 16 of Euro 2024, but only after putting up another lackluster performance.
As in the two previous matches against Denmark and Serbia, England failed to generate clear-cut chances and were held to a boring goalless draw against Slovenia, a team rated 57th in the world.
Before the game, Southgate made one alteration to his starting lineup: he brought Conor Gallagher into his midfield engine room, ending his experimentation with Trent Alexander-Arnold in the middle.
However, the Chelsea star was only on the field for 45 minutes until Manchester United rookie Kobbie Mainoo took his place at the beginning of the second half.
Man of the match in the FA Cup final Mainoo made his debut for his nation in a competition, and he performed admirably.
Wilshere is certain that the teenager showed enough to be ready to start with Declan Rice for England in their upcoming match, but he worries that Gallagher’s confidence may have been damaged by the decision to take him off the field at halftime.
“Kobbie Maino was always my preference to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield,” former Arsenal player Wilshere stated to The Sun.
“I believe he demonstrated why during tonight’s second half.” However, I continue to think that Conor Gallagher was treated unfairly by being substituted off at halftime.
First of all, we played our best half of the competition, I think. Furthermore, it didn’t seem like a move made by Gareth Southgate.
It will undoubtedly undermine Gallagher’s self-assurance. Although he only receives half of it, he will have felt that this was his chance.
Having said that, Mainoo showed he is the man—or boy—to play there in the future, and the second half was better despite the unfortunate outcome.
Despite being only 19, he has a deep understanding of the game and knows what it requires.
“He is more adept with the ball than Gallagher, and he also made it possible for Declan Rice to advance the ball even farther than he did in the first half.”