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By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer
England manager Gareth Southgate could have struggled to choose whether his glass has been half-empty or half-full since he reflected in St Mary’s to a blunder and thud night against Kosovo.
First things – everyone at Southampton enjoyed a Euro 2020 qualifier that caused a rousing ovation for the two sides in the end of the chaotic 5-3 success of England.
And now Southgate will have revelled from the glorious attacking screen, flanked by a world-class performance from Raheem Sterling, who scored of England as well as establishing two goals for Harry Kane.
After defender Michael Keane presented using a goal in the first minute, passing unerringly into Valon Berisha with a run at goalkeeper Jordan Pickford Kosovo tormented.
Sadly, however, there has to be a misery-guts facet to this story even though England are currently observing four wins out of four Euro 2020 qualifiers and so are cruising after scoring 19 goals in these games.
The most important thing is this – if they shield carelessly and shoddily if they are simple to get in as Kosovo made it seem and give ownership as this England have little if any chance of beating international sides.
Kosovo entering this match on the back of a 15-game unbeaten run, are improving quickly and with a triumph following 35, on the Czech Republic that increased their hopes of becoming one of the qualifiers.
They’re, however, currently ranked 120th.
This is a slightly false evaluation given their skill but the very fact they dragged England back in 5-1 to 5-3 in the second half and made a feeling of anxiety and anticipation among the lovers in both end of St Mary’s says what about the flaws in Southgate’s side.
England, defensively, weren’t great – nowhere close to the standard that will be suitable at the level.
Keane was the very first to err but he was certainly not the last.
West Ham United’s Declan Rice gave the ball for the moment of Berisha while Manchester United’s Harry Maguire clumsily failed to clean before hauling down.
Maguire made an meal of the piece of effort to make it a treble helping of dreadful of their play and also for dream and all the flair by England there is no hiding that this is a weakness.
Himself pointed at mistakes. This was a night of joy for the supervisor of England. There is much to concern him.
Imagine the likes of Belgium, France, Spain, Germany and a few others when faced with the sort of protecting England?
It might be better not to imagine it.
Would be licking their lips at the notion of confronting this England defence.
England have the John Stones of Manchester City to come back while Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, the very best alternative outside the recent selections, isn’t getting games at club 47, but he had a nightmare at the Uefa Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands.
The first choice defenders of southgate have not proved reliable against opposition of the grade – and produced no evidence here to suggest they’ll do this any time soon.
Kosovo’s ability to run through England’s midfield and get at that soft center would also have worried Southgate.
It might appear somewhat spoilsport to focus in afterwards yet another victory that is significant except to dismiss it might be delusion. Southgate will not be allowing it escape his attention.
For effectiveness of the attack of England and the class, their defensive condition indicates they’ll have to stand up at least three goals against these teams mentioned previously to stand a chance of victory since there’s absolutely no way.
This task will not be as easy as it had been here against a Kosovo side dedicated to an all-out attacking strategy that occasionally left them open at the back.
England are fallible in defence – however they’re superbly irresistible in assault.
They’ve scored 14 goals in their three home matches, more than every other state in Euros.
And all was the brilliant Sterling, that produced a performance against Kosovo which was from anybody.
Sterling finished a 27-game sequence that was barren extending back three years when he scored in England’s 3-2 win in Spain a year ago – today he’s irreplaceable.
Since that game in Spain he’s played with seven games, scoring six goals in England’s qualifying games so far and generating four assists.
He simply could not be stopped from the first 45 minutes as he put up England’s captain for his goal in level with Bryan Robson 41 appearances and yet supporting David Platt and also his partnership with Kane is reaching proportions that were telepathic.
Sterling was involved in 12 goals in his past eight England games. He and Kane have combined for six objects under Southgate three times as numerous as any other duo.
If Arijanet Muric his second skip saved his second-half punishment in 10 attempts for England, kane’s operation contained a rare blemish.
In the long run it was not pricey as Kosovo’s brave attempt at a wonder turnaround dropped short and England will look at a Group A table having a flawless look.
But especially that shambolic defence, England’s display, wasn’t perfect and they will not come off unscathed if this is generated on a point.
Read more: footballleagueworld.com
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