Southgate Has A Cross To Bear

Boos, penalties, injuries and a defence who allow a steady stream of deliveries into the box.. Gareth’s got some issues

- Craig Swan

Steve Clarke has momentum. He has unity from dressing room to the punter and has his key men fit.

He has everything he needs at this stage. It doesn’t seem like his England counterpart Gareth Southgate is in quite the same comfy position.

The Three Lions boss has confessed it’s not been plain sailing in his build-up and it’s not tough to see what he means.

Southgate has been hampered by injuries. He’s already lost Joe Gomez and Trent AlexanderArnold. If that’s not enough, he’s been vilified by some punters and pundits for gambling on the selection of Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson when both are toiling with injuries.

Maguire won’t make Croatia on Sunday. Henderson is nowhere near up to speed. But like recent past tournaments, an England boss has gambled on less-than-100-per-cent stalwarts. It’s left him wide open.