Ahead of the World Cup next June, Gareth Southgate gave a number of young England players the opportunity to shine in the goalless draws against Germany and Brazil.
The likes of Joe Gomez, Jordan Pickford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek did their hopes no harm and will be eager to impress again when the Three Lions play the Netherlands and Italy in March.
So who could be in the England squad for the 2018 World Cup? We look at the media predictions for next summer.
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Battle for the No 1 spot
Despite Pickford’s superb debut against Germany last week, Southgate gave Joe Hart another opportunity to cement his first-team place for Russia in the match against Brazil last night.
The West Ham goalkeeper is under pressure from both Pickford and Jack Butland, but the Daily Mail says that because he has now started 11 of Southgate’s 14 games in charge, he will be a definite to start between the sticks.
England’s new back three?
Consisting of Gomez, 20, John Stones, 23, and Harry Maguire, 24, England’s youthful defensive trio performed well against Brazil’s star-studded attack. The Daily Telegraph rates Gomez and Stones’ performance as 8/10, while Maguire gets a seven.
Gomez’s performance was so good, says TalkSport’s Jason Cundy, it has ended the international careers of Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill and Phil Jones.
He writes: “Joe Gomez put in the sort of performance that I think ends Gary Cahill’s international career, ends Jones’ international career and ends Smalling’s international career. I think that performance there tells me he’s the future and that back three tonight were outstanding – Gomez, Stones and Maguire.”
On the flanks
With a 3-5-2 formation expected in Russia, the wing-back positions will be key for England. Southgate has depth on either flank, with Danny Rose and Ryan Bertrand battling for the left wing-back spot and Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier battling for the right.
All four players are talented and will be definites for Russia, but the Mail predicts Walker and Rose will start at the finals.
Who will partner Harry Kane up front?
England were without Harry Kane for the two friendly matches, allowing Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Tammy Abraham and Dominic Solanke to have a chance to impress the boss.
While next summer’s World Cup could come too soon for 20-year-olds Abraham and Solanke, Manchester United star Rashford, also 20, may well be a starter alongside Kane. Providing Kane is fit, the Tottenham star is the first name of teamsheet.
Both Rashford and Vardy offer pace and direct running, but only one will be picked alongside Kane if Southgate goes for two up top.
The Telegraph asks if Rashford or Vardy should partner Kane in the England attack. Calling Rashford “England’s most threatening player” against Brazil, it says the United star has “taken the lead” against Vardy for the second striking position.
Southgate’s midfield conundrum
Southgate’s main problem area could be in midfield whatever formation he chooses. Going 3-5-2 against Germany and Brazil meant that two strikers played in front of three midfielders.
Eric Dier being captain in both games suggests he will start in the holding midfield role, while his Tottenham teammate Dele Alli will almost definitely be on the teamsheet.
Alli’s role will depend on the formation. He could play in an advanced position in a three-man midfield or could join Rashford behind lone striker Kane if Southgate goes for 3-4-2-1.
In June, the Telegraph quoted the England boss as saying the squad “lacked midfield maestros”, so it seems there’s at least one spot up for grabs.
Could Loftus-Cheek, 21, be the maestro Southgate is looking for? His man-of-the-match performance against Germany did his hopes no harm, but he was withdrawn after 35 minutes against Brazil because of injury.
Wales winger turned ITV pundit Ryan Giggs questioned if Loftus-Cheek was physically ready to play regularly at top level.
“I think you’ve seen with the likes of Marcus Rashford, that robustness is now there because he’s had 18 months to two years playing top level football,” he said.
“Loftus-Cheek just hasn’t had that so when you’ve got the high of Friday night and then you’ve got to do it again on the Tuesday night, then it’s tough if your body isn’t ready for it.”
Other midfield options include Jordan Henderson and Harry Winks, both of whom missed the two friendly matches, as well as Jake Livermore and Adam Lallana.
The Telegraph says Livermore was “out of his depth technically” against Brazil, while the Mail believes he is behind Winks, Henderson and Lallana in the pecking order.
Colin Mafham in the Daily Express called for Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere to be named in England’s squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Left out by Southgate because of his lack of game time at the Gunners, Wilshere “could make a big difference when the real stuff starts next summer”, says the journalist, and is a “midfield holder of the ball and playmaker all rolled into one”.
