RIDDLE ENGLAND

Wembley defeat raises more questions than answers on Southgate's top team

- JOHN CROSS

GARETH SOUTHGATE did not even get a chance to try to solve the final pieces of the puzzle on Saturday night.

Instead, the loss ended up ringing alarm bells for Southgate after Brazil's next superstar exposed England's understudies.

Endrick, aged 17 years and 246 days, became the youngest international scorer at Wembley with his first goal for his country.

But for the Three Lions, it highlighted three key worries ahead of the Euros and, rather than build confidence, it had the opposite effect by delivering a few home truths.

The first concern is at left-back because, as Southgate admitted, Luke Shaw is running out of time to be fit for the whole of the tournament this summer.

There is also a gaping hole alongside Declan Rice in midfield and the idea of the two friendlies with Brazil and Belgium was to try out Trent Alexander-Arnold in both against top opposition.

And finally, it showed the importance of Harry Kane.

His goals but also his movement, his ability to bring team-mates into play and the way he holds the ball up actually makes England a completely different and better team.