GARETH'S GAMBLE

Heartbreak for experienced and trusted stars as Southgate puts his faith in new wave of talent with bold and brave calls

- JOHN CROSS

GARETH SOUTHGATE described it as "one of the most difficult parts of his job."

And it has left England with what even Southgate described as a "very different" looking squad with major question marks hanging over experience, goals and a new-look dressing room dynamic.

There was no repeat of La Manga in 1998 when Paul Gascoigne wrecked Glenn Hoddle's hotel room after being cut from the World Cup squad.

But the calls on Jack Grealish and Harry Maguire were arguably more heart-rending because they are such big characters and have played such a major role in his reign as England manager.

Southgate has stuck with Maguire through thick and thin while Grealish is as bright and entertaining on the pitch as he is off it. James Maddison is another big personality, even if he is hardly an England regular.

But what is really striking about Southgate's selection is that this now represents a revolution. Thirteen players have been cut from the World Cup squad of just 18 months ago in Qatar. England had a total of 820 caps in that squad while the squad going to Germany this summer can pull together just 634.

The defence has Kyle Walker, John Stones, Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier with 231 caps between them - but the rest is made up of Lewis Dunk, Joe Gomez, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa, who have only got 33 shared between them.