Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has revealed that striker Sergio Aguero is struggling to come to terms with the death of Diego Maradona.
Maradona, a footballing icon who is widely considered to be the greatest to ever play the game, died on Wednesday aged 60 following a heart attack. His death sparked an outpouring of grief globally, with three days of mourning announced in his native Argentina.
The late Argentine legend had been Aguero’s father-in-law during his marriage to daughter Giannina – mother of the City man’s son Benjamin.
The 32-year-old also played under Maradona during his time as Argentina national team manager.
Aguero came on for City late in the 1-0 Champions League victory at Olympiacos on Wednesday, with the news of Maradona’s death only breaking shortly before kick off.
Speaking ahead of the Citizens’ Premier League encounter with Burnley, Guardiola admitted his striker was finding it ‘tough’.
“Of course it’s difficult for me to talk about his feelings,” he said, as quoted by the Independent.
“I saw him good but the impact on the day of the game against Olympiacos was hard, especially for his son.
“Of course it was tough, that’s normal. He knew Maradona quite well and, for his son, he was his grandfather.
“It is a sad situation, unfortunately, for his family but he’s OK.”
Aguero is currently working his way back from both knee and hamstring injuries, but Guardiola added that he does not want to rush City’s record goalscorer back into action, with both Gabriel Jesus and Ferran Torres performing well as the central striker in his absence.
“He’s going to give us good moments this season,” the Catalan continued.
“He is still not in his best condition but we cannot forget how long his injury was. Then he came back and was injured again.
“In the middle of the season he is a guy who needs to be so sharp to score goals in the box but we don’t have doubts.
“He needs a little time to get it and, in training and with the minutes, he will. Then he will still have seven months ahead to show it.”
City host Burnley at 3pm on Saturday looking to move out of the bottom half of the Premier League following a tricky start to the season.
A Carlos Vinicius brace helped Tottenham romp to a 4-0 victory over Ludogorets Razgrad in the Europa League, with the opposition failing to register a single shot.
The home side started brightly and poked their noses in front when Vinicius burst through to score his first Spurs goal. The Brazilian did not have to wait long for his second either, with Dele Alli’s cutback giving him the simplest of tap-ins.
Harry Winks then made it 3-0 after the break in spectacular fashion, lobbing Plamen Iliev from over 50 yards out – though whether he meant it or not is questionable. Lucas Moura then grabbed Spurs’ fourth, smashing home from inside the box in the 73rd minute.
Here are your Tottenham player ratings after their straightforward win…
Joe Hart (GK) – 6/10 – Should’ve brought a camping chair, a good book, a thermos of tea and a few cricket stumps. Was substituted for young Alfie Whiteman with ten minutes to play. Hart watched on like a proud father on the sideline – it was heartwarming stuff.
Matt Doherty (RB) – 8/10 – Showed his attacking prowess throughout, surging down the right-hand side regularly.
Davinson Sanchez (CB) – 7/10 – Read the game well, stifling any attacks before they had time to develop. He racked up three interceptions overall.
Japhet Tanganga (CB) – 7/10 – Couldn’t have asked for a more relaxing return to European action. He was rarely, if ever, threatened by the opposition.
Ben Davies (LB) – 7/10 – Struck the outside of the post with a fierce strike in the first half. Typical of his positive performance.
Harry Winks (CM) – 8/10 – Part of some delightful passing sequences in midfield. We’ll let you decide whether he meant his goal…
Tanguy Ndombele (CM) – 8/10 – Unplayable at points. Highlight of his all-conquering display was dancing through the opposition just before Spurs scored their second.
Dele Alli (CM) – 8/10 – Back on form, albeit against meagre opposition. His assist for the second goal was wonderful.
Gareth Bale (RW) – 7/10 – Another promising step on his road to full fitness. He was lively and inventive but loses a mark for some horrific free kicks.
Carlos Vinicius (ST) – 9/10 – Imperious display. His movement was particularly impressive and he deserved his brace.
Lucas Moura (LW) – 8/10 – Breezed past the Ludogorets defence with ease on multiple occasions. Took his goal very well.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 7/10 – Not sure bringing him on was entirely necessary but still impressed.
Jack Clarke – 7/10 – Looked bright and showed his nasty side with some intense pressing.
Alfie Whiteman – 6/10 – Made a bit of a hash of the one thing he had to do. Saying that, he probably wasn’t expecting to come on with ten minutes left to play.
Harvey White – 6/10 – The 19-year-old came agonisingly close to a goal on his debut.
Dane Scarlett – 6/10 – Overtook John Bostock as Tottenham’s youngest ever player. Nice.
Supporters have been gathering across Argentina and Naples to mourn the passing of footballing great Diego Maradona.
The World Cup winner passed away on Wednesday at the age of 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Maradona’s infectious playing style and eccentric personality won him fans across the globe – and even his own religion – but it is in his native Argentina and Naples where he is held in particularly high esteem.
The forward played 91 times for Argentina, scoring 34 goals and inspiring his country to a famous World Cup success in 1986.
Supporters have taken to the streets in Argentina to pay tribute to their former player and manager.
Maradona etched himself into the hearts of the people of Naples during his seven-year spell with Napoli.
He won four major trophies with the Serie A outfit and formed a real bond with the city and the supporters.
Napoli’s home – Stadio San Paolo – remained lit up on Wednesday evening in tribute to the club’s former player.
The people of Naples have flocked to murals of Maradona throughout the city, creating candlelit vigils in honour of the club great.
A fitting tribute to a diminutive giant of the game.
The Champions League returned to our screens and monitors on Tuesday evening, with Europe’s elite beginning to book their places in the round of 16.
There were headline wins for Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona, while Juventus and Paris-Saint Germain stumbled to awkward victories themselves.
Here’s your roundup of Tuesday’s action…
Chelsea became the first side to secure qualification to this season’s knockout stages with a 2-1 win at Rennes in Group E.
Mason Mount, who Frank Lampard pointed out pre-game was in fact not his son, found Callum Hudson-Odoi with a wonderfully weighted ball for the Blues’ opener, but Serhou Guirassy threatened to derail Chelsea’s path to the last 16 with a thumping header with under ten minutes remaining. However, Olivier Giroud secured the points late on with a header of his own late on to send Chelsea into the next round.
Chelsea’s player ratings from this game can be found here.
Elsewhere in Group E, Sevilla too left it late to ensure they would also advance to the knockout stages, beating Krasnodar 2-1 in a partially-filled stadium in Russia. Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring for the Spaniards after four minutes with a drilled effort from range. Wanderson cancelled out the Croat’s strike goal early in the second half, but Munir sealed the win in the 95th minute.
In Group H, Manchester United saw off the challenge of Istanbul Basaksehir with a 4-1win at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes was quick out of the blocks with a first half brace, including a rocket from the edge of the area, before Marcus Rashford added a third from the penalty spot. Deniz Turuc pulled one back for the visitors with a fierce free-kick with 15 minutes remaining, and despite late pressure, United clinched the win through Dan James in stoppage time.
You can read United’s player ratings in full here.
Neymar’s first half penalty was enough for Paris Saint-Germain to beat RB Leipzig 1-0 at Parc des Princes. The hosts played with their backs to the walls for much of the contest, and leapfrog Die Roten Bullen on their head-to-head record with two group games remaining.
In Group G, Alvaro Morata spared Juventus‘ blushes by popping up with a late winner in a 2-1 win at home to Ferencvaros. Myrto Uzuni gave the away side a shock lead early on with a tap in, imitating Cristiano Ronaldo with his celebration. Unfortunately, the Portuguese legend was in no mood and equalised for the hosts soon after, and Morata snatched the points in the dying minutes to send the Old Lady through to the last 16.
Juve’s player ratings can be found here.
A heavily weakened Barcelona side put aside their domestic issues to record an emphatic 4-0 win at Dynamo Kyiv, with all four goals coming in the second half. Sergino Dest’s first goal for the club was followed by a brace by sole striker Martin Braithwaite. Antoine Griezmann put the cherry on the cake in injury time as Barça maintained their 100% record in this season’s Champions League and advanced to the next round.
Borussia Dortmund remain top of Group F after a comfortable 3-0 victory at home to Club Brugge. Erling Haaland surpassed Ronaldo’s (the original) Champions League goal tally with his 15th and 16th strikes in just 12 European Cup games. Jadon Sancho also worked his way onto the scoresheet at Signal-Iduna Park with a wicked free-kick.
Meanwhile, Lazio edged their way toward the knockout stages after beating Zenit 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico. Goal machine Ciro Immobile kicked off proceedings with a sweet strike from distance, and Marco Parolo added a second soon after. Artem Dzyuba replied for the Russian champions minutes later, but Immobile made sure of victory with a second half penalty.
The date of Theo Walcott’s decisive goal against Luton Town in the Championship. He didn’t know it then, but it would be his last league goal for Southampton for almost 15 years.
The emerging teenager looked as if he was set for greatness and was whisked off to Arsenal before he could hit the net again. Things didn’t all work out for him there – historic highs and heart-wrenching lows came in equal measure throughout his 12 years at the Emirates, before he left for Everton, where he struggled to deliver on his £20m price tag.
His long, winding path brought him back to where it all started in October. And Southampton will be praising the heavens that it did.
The 31-year-old has provided Ralph Hasenhuttl with a creative solution to the problem posed by Danny Ings’ latest injury. He will never be as prolific as the striker who has scored 30 goals since the beginning of last season, but what he can match is Ings’ energy and enthusiasm on the front lines.
That was evident against Newcastle a week ago, when he joined Che Adams in a promising-looking partnership and set up the 24-year-old’s opening goal.
The same combination crafted the opener at Molineux on Monday, but this time it was Walcott who was placed to coolly convert at the back post.
The finish was simple but it was indicative of the performances he has turned in since Hasenhuttl opted to move him inside. Nelson Semedo’s defending was awful, but Walcott read it and positioned himself as if he had been playing centre-forward all his life.
He seems to be thriving in his new position, relishing the prospect of running at centre-backs and catching defences off-guard with his early runs. He perhaps should have doubled the lead after a long ball from Adams left him with all the time in the world, but he lost his composure when faced up by Rui Patricio one on one.
Speaking to reporters after the match, he reminded us what Theo Walcott looked like with a smile on his face. Rejuvenated, radiating charm, and oozing a child-like enthusiasm at the prospect of playing football regularly yet again.
When he was stuck in Goodison Park purgatory, you’d have forgiven for thinking that we’d seen the last of the player who was once English football’s great white hope. Thanks to a trusting manager and a team that values him, however, it’s beginning to seem like there is far more to come.
Barcelona stalwart Gerard Pique scored the winner when they faced at the Nou Camp earlier this month. | Eric Alonso/Getty Images
Barcelona are looking for their second win of the month over Group G rivals Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League on Tuesday evening as the two sides come face to face in the Ukrainian capital.
While Barcelona’s form in La Liga has left them down in 12th place, they currently sit top of their Champions League group. Ronald Koeman’s side ran out 2-1 winners in the reverse fixture at Camp Nou earlier this month after beating Juventus in Turin in October.
The recent resignation of the entire Barcelona board signals a fresh start for Barcelona and they will be more desperate than ever to make good progress in the Champions League.
When Is Kick Off? Tuesday 24 November What Time Is Kick Off? 8PM (GMT) Where Is It Played? NSC Olimpiyskiy TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sports Extra 3 (UK), CBS Sports (USA) Referee? Matej Jug (Slovenia)
Dynamo Kyiv have been going through a COVID crisis lately with a considerable amount of players and staff self-isolating after testing positive. Striker Artem Besedin is ruled out due to serving a doping ban. Oleksandr Tymchyk, Nazariy Rusyn, Volodymyr Kostevych and Mykyta Burda all miss out through injury.
The Ukraine outfit could be forced to plug gaps in their starting XI due to the effects of injuries and COVID on team selections and will need to work hard to beat Barcelona.
Gerard Pique suffered a serious knee injury in the 1-0 loss to Atletico Madrid at the weekend and the 33-year-old faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Fellow defender Sergi Roberto suffered a muscle injury in the same game, while Ousmane Dembele is reported to have hurt his shoulder, joining centre-backs Ronald Araujo and Samuel Umtiti on the treatment table.
The defensive headache Koeman currently has could mean we see Frenkie de Jong start at centre-back alongside Clement Lenglet. Ansu Fati and Sergio Busquets are also out of contention for Tuesday’s game with knee injuries.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Dest, De Jong, Lenglet, Alba; Pjanic, Alena; Dembele, Messi, Pedri; Griezmann.
Dynamo Kyiv have taken only one point from their two opening games in the Champions League. A 2-2 draw with Hungarian side Ferencvaros preceded their 2-1 loss against Barcelona at the Nou Camp earlier in November. Despite a rocky start to their European campaign they currently sit top of their domestic league with a three-point lead.
Messi and co have taken maximum points from their Champions League games, beating a Juventus side that missed Cristiano Ronaldo 2-0 and Kyiv 2-1 in Barcelona. Draws with Sevilla and Alaves coupled with losses to Getafe and Real Madrid have meant Barcelona reside in the bottom half of the domestic table in 12th place.
Dynamo Kyiv
Ingulets 0-2 Dynamo Kyiv (21/11) Dynamo Kyiv 0-3 Shaktar Donetsk (08/11)
Barcelona 2-1 Dynamo Kyiv (04/11)
SK Dnipro 1-2 Dynamo Kyiv (31/10)
Ferencvaros 2-2 Dynamo Kyiv (28/10)
Barcelona
Atletico Madrid 1-0 Barcelona (21/11) Barcelona 5-2 Real Betis (07/11) Barcelona 2-1 Dynamo Kyiv (04/11)
Alaves 1-1 Barcelona (31/10)
Juventus 0-2 Barcelona (28/10)
Both sides currently find themselves with key players either injured or self-isolating and we could see some improvisation with squad selection on Tuesday. Injuries to experienced players like Pique and Busquets will mean a more youthful side but the fitness of Messi and Antoine Griezmannshould be enough to see Barcelona over the line.
Atletico Madrid did a classic number on Barcelona, beating Ronald Koeman’s side 1-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano thanks to Yannick Carrasco’s first-half stoppage time goal.
The hosts stifled the former La Liga champions, who struggled to create many chances against such a well-drilled, military style defence. The decisive goal came on the stroke of half-time, when a Marc-Andre ter Stegen clanger offered Carrasco the chance to fire into an empty net from distance – and he did not disappoint.
Barça then faced the daunting task of getting back on level terms against a Diego Simeone side, and they ultimately failed, forcing only four saves out of Atleti goalkeeper Jan Oblak. The win for the hosts puts them into second place, while the Catalan giants are languishing down in tenth.
Check out the player ratings from a typically shot-shy evening in Madrid.
Jan Oblak (GK) – 8/10 – Monster. Not forced into too many saves due to his incredible defence, but organisation starts from the back.
Stefan Savic (CB) – 7/10 – The lesser accomplished of the centre-backs tonight, but that’s no dig. A clean sheet is a clean sheet.
Jose Gimenez (CB) – 8/10 – Diego Godin’s younger clone. Loves to fight, head, tackle, kick, the works. The heartbeat of this backline.
Mario Hermoso (CB) – 7/10 – Another top performance. Keeping it tight against any Barça team is no mean feat, but this unit did its job.
Kieran Trippier (RWB) – 8/10 – This guy should be England’s best right-back. He’s trained by the best, and in a proper system, he stands out as an excellent defender with a wicked delivery.
Saul Niguez (CM) – 7/10 – Forced to dig in and leave his fancy skills at home. Always up for the battle.
Koke (CM) – 8/10 – Mr Atleti – Simeone’s man on the pitch. Takes pleasure in reducing the game to its most turgid but equally enjoyable form. He smells another title.
Marcos Llorente (CM) – 7/10 – The outlet in the midfield, that wasn’t really allowed out all too often. Tried to support the forwards when possible.
Yannick Carrasco (LWB) – 8/10 – Miles out from goal with just an empty net in front of you. How’s your nerve, son? Very good, as it turns out. Goal capped a great performance and typified his endeavour.
Angel Correa (ST) – 7/10 – A pest, and a defender’s nightmare. Never stopped running, unprepared to give his marker a second’s rest. It’s that attitude that forces errors.
Joao Felix (ST) – 6/10 – Less involved than in recent games, but added that sparkle to a team which looks like it’s been through the wash one too many times.
Diego Costa (ST) – 6/10
Thomas Lemar (LWB) – N/A
Geoffrey Kondogbia (CM) – N/A
Felipe (CB) – N/A
Marc-Andre ter Stegen (GK) – 4/10 – YOU HAD ONE JOB BIG MAN! STAY IN YOUR GOAL! Crazy decision making, caught miles out at sea. Decided the match.
Sergi Roberto (RB) – 7/10 – Not a bad performance, really. Caught out down his flank for the goal, but not really his fault, was it?
Gerard Pique (CB) – 6/10 – Not his best display, although we rarely see one nowadays. Limped off with a nasty looking injury.
Clement Lenglet (CB) – 7/10 – The better of the two central defenders, Lenglet may be on his own next time he takes to the field.
Jordi Alba (LB) – 6/10 – Best days are well behind him. Not as potent going forward and misses his connection with Mr Messi.
Miralem Pjanic (CM) – 6/10 – Not the worst on the pitch today, but by no means the best. Will feel unfortunate to have been hooked ahead of some others.
Frenkie de Jong (CM) – 6/10 – Still not quite finding his feet in this team, and looks short of confidence and swagger – an absolutely no-no when you play for this club.
Lionel Messi (CAM) – 7/10 – If you come to realise you’re the smartest person in the room – you’re in the wrong room. Messi has realised this, but someone has already locked the door and swallowed the key. Trapped in a sea of averageness.
Ousmane Dembele (RW) – 6/10 – The better and more unpredictable of the forward line, and survived the substitute culling. Dribbled like the baller he is and tried to win it on his own. Barça want to tie him down… good luck.
Antoine Griezmann (ST) – 5/10 – I bet he really wanted to win this one, eh? Shame he played like he was still the main man in red and white. “Fancy having me back, lads?” Subbed.
Pedri (LW) – 5/10 – Inexperienced and it showed against the might of Trippier, the newly crowned greatest right-back in history. Subbed.
Steve Bruce was unimpressed with the agent’s comments | Robin Jones/Getty Images
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has taken aim at the agent of winger Miguel Almiron for his recent comments about the Paraguay international’s future at the club.
Daniel Campos suggested that Almiron would have left Newcastle during the summer had it not been for the COVID-19 outbreak, with both Inter and Atletico Madrid both registering their interest in the 26-year-old.
The agent also took aim at Newcastle’s poor standing in the Premier League, and Bruce was clearly unimpressed to be hearing such comments come from anyone other than the player himself.
“I couldn’t miss the quotes because they were so outrageous it was bordering on the ridiculous,” Bruce admitted, in quotes relayed by BBC Sport. “If it was Miguel, who I’ve had the pleasure to work with for the last 15 months, knocking on my door and having a problem, I’d listen.
“An agent who, two years in, is probably trying to profit again and take him somewhere else, is just hugely disrespectful to all of us basically, and to the club in particular who have served Miguel so well.
“I will have a conversation with him of course, but Miguel is an unbelievable pro and has a great attitude to everything.
“But the agent proves to me he is an amateur looking to make a fast buck again, which is pretty ridiculous.”
Despite Bruce’s defiant stance, sources have confirmed to 90min that Newcastle are aware of Almiron’s interest in a move away from St James’ Park, and they would be prepared to listen to acceptable offers.
The Magpies have been underwhelmed by the return of their £21m club-record signing, who moved over from North America in January 2019. Almiron has managed just nine goals and five assists in 62 appearances for Newcastle, though much of his underperformance – statistically, anyway – has attributed to the team’s style of play and the role he’s been asked to perform.
Newcastle are reluctant to accept a significant loss on Almiron and slapped a £20m price tag on his head during the summer; a figure that appeared to ward off his potential suitors.
Both Rodgers and Vardy understand the pressures of a Premier League title race | Michael Regan/Getty Images
Going into the season, not a lot was expected of Leicester City.
The Foxes had endured a repugnant end of the 2019/20 campaign, winning just two of their final ten games and surrendering a place in the Champions League in the process. It wasn’t just the results that were worrying; the performances were also dire. Going forward things had gone stale and uncharacteristic errors were sneaking into the once impenetrable defence.
In this context, Leicester’s incredible start to the 2020/21 season has been nothing short of miraculous. They currently sit top of the Premier League table with six wins from their opening eight games. This has included three swaggering away victories; a 5-2 win against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, a merciless 4-1 thrashing of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds and a 1-0 smash and grab at the Emirates Stadium.
This rapid start has been replicated on the continent with the Foxes winning their opening three Europa League games. Most recently, they defeated Braga 4-0 just days before edging out Wolves 1-0 to remain top of the pile in England.
All of this has been mightily impressive and Rodgers is clearly enjoying himself, treading the line between confidence and arrogance more closely with each passing week.
“Because I’m a British manager, I probably got lucky,” he joked after playing hipster favourites Leeds off the park earlier this month.
They say that pride comes before a fall and Rodgers will be hoping that’s not the case when his Leicester side face their toughest test of the season so far on Sunday. This weekend, they travel to their manager’s forming hunting ground, Anfield, to take the reigning champions.
Liverpool have not lost at home in the league in 63 games and have won five of their last six meetings against Leicester. The last time the two sides faced off on Boxing Day 2019, it was bloodbath. The Reds coasted to a 4-0 victory over Leicester to end any fanciful notions of a title race and go 13 points clear at the top of the table. The team the Foxes will face on Sunday will be very different.
While not wanting to underplay the size of Leicester’s task, there is not likely to be a better time to play the Reds during this most strange of seasons. The international break has not been kind to Liverpool, with their already injury ravaged squad further weakened.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk will all definitely miss out while Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are all doubts.
This leaves Liverpool with a barebones starting XI, with the defence looking particularly problematic. Jamie Vardy will be licking his lips at the prospect of facing Joel Matip and one of Fabinho or Nathaniel Phillips, particularly if Jurgen Klopp persists with the Reds’ high line that seemed to be causing Gomez all sorts of issues prior to his absence.
Harvey Barnes will be also be relishing the chance to run at Liverpool’s makeshift defence. He’ll be especially motivated to prove himself to Gareth Southgate after being snubbed for the England squad recently.
In midfield, in form Youri Tielemans will fancy his chances of asserting himself if Henderson does not recover in time, while James Maddison will be looking to capitalise on any organisational slackness which will give him an opportunity to drift in-between the lines and play in Vardy.
Take all of this into account and suddenly the Reds’ imperious home record does not look quite so imposing.
Leicester are still not favourites for Sunday’s game but they have a great chance to secure their first win at Anfield since 2000. The season may still be in its infancy but a victory here would fire the starting pistol on a multi-horsed title race for the first time in several years. A title race that the Foxes – and Rodgers in particular – would very much like to be a part of.
Foden turned in a terrific performance against Iceland | Pool/Getty Images
Gareth Southgate may not be able to squeeze Jack Grealish and Phil Foden into every single England starting XI when he has all of his illustrious attacking talents fully fit.
But the pair gave the Three Lions boss a big reminder of the different dimensions they can offer, and England fans a reminder of the diversity of forward talent the country currently has during England’s 4-0 victory over Iceland on Wednesday,
Southgate selected a team brimming with fresh faces, and each of England’s youngsters justified their inclusion in a comfortable victory.
Foden’s wicked free kick was headed home by Declan Rice for the Three Lions’ opener, before the typically lively Mason Mount doubled their advantage from close range.
Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho combined exquisitely to tee up Foden for England’s third in the second half, before the Manchester City midfielder added a fourth with a sweetly struck effort from the edge of the box six minutes from time.
Rice and Mount complemented each other well, the former putting in a disciplined performance and shielding the back three to give the latter the freedom to roam.
But of all the inexperienced international players who impressed, it was Grealish and Foden who shone the brightest.
The Aston Villa captain carried on from where he left off following his eye catching performance against Belgium on Sunday, riding challenges, drawing fouls and playing with the infectious fearlessness and adventurousness of a kid in the playground.
Foden was similarly impressive, his four-minute brace rounding off a mature, exciting display from the 20-year-old. He drifted between the lines and demonstrated a real bravery to demand the ball time and time again. His link up play was slick, he elegantly glided past Iceland players like they were cones and his first time touch and turn to escape from Olafur Ingi Skulason in the second half was simply exquisite.
Much has been made of Southgate’s insistence on playing five at the back given the array of attacking talent he has at his disposal. England are spoilt with forward options at the moment, and whatever starting XI the Three Lions boss selects, there will always be complaints over someone not being included – because quite simply, even if you are Ian Holloway’s Blackpool, you cannot play nine forwards.
But Southgate has the luxury of options, with Grealish and Foden offering something completely different to Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford.
The pair were particularly effective against an Iceland side who were content to sit back, defend deep and frustrate England. In tournament football, Southgate’s side will likely come up against a lot of teams set up like this.
Grealish and Foden are ideal in these kind of matches. Both players prefer the ball to feet as opposed to running in behind – which was not an option given how deep Iceland were defending. The pair’s patience, intricate build up play and ability to unpick the stubborn opposition backline were such a weapon.
One England player who can demonstrate confidence, fearlessness and bravery on the ball is usually heralded as a generational talent. Gareth Southgate has the luxury of two.
