WHAT HAPPENED?
Southgate faces mounting pressure to make significant changes to his squad ahead of their crucial Euro 2024 last-16 tie against Slovakia. The anticipation for Bellingham's impact in Germany was immense, particularly after his stellar season with Real Madrid. His performance in England's 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opener, where he scored the decisive goal, initially seemed to validate these high hopes. However, Bellingham's form dipped significantly in the following matches against Denmark and Slovenia, raising concerns about his consistency and overall contribution to the team's efforts.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
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Meanwhile, Kane, England's captain and talisman, also faces scrutiny. Despite scoring once in the group stage, his performances have been seen as lacklustre, prompting suggestions that he should be benched in favour of more dynamic attacking options. Kane, who will turn 31 in July, is being criticised for his lack of agility and diminishing impact on the pitch, a stark contrast to his prolific season at Bayern Munich where he netted 36 Bundesliga goals.
WHAT DIDI HAMANN SAID
Former Liverpool star and current pundit Didi Hamann has been particularly vocal, advocating for a revamp of the lineup. Hamann suggests replacing Bellingham with Phil Foden in the midfield and incorporating younger, more energetic players like Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon on the flanks.
In his column for Sky Sport in Germany, Hamann wrote: "Between Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham only one can play and for me, that would be Foden. For me you have to take Bellingham out, Foden in the middle and then Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon on the flanks.
"Bellingham was hyped after his first six months in Madrid. But he has only performed average for Real since Christmas. In the Champions League, he was barely seen in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final. That's why I'm not surprised by his performances at the European Championships. The question is which position is best for him. He plays at number 10 for England, and he has scored most of his goals for Real as a striker. Bellingham is undoubtedly a good player, but he needs to confirm his performances from last year. Many are talking about the Ballon d'Or, but I don't see him as a world footballer at the moment."
DID YOU KNOW?
Hamann did not mince words regarding Kane's current form, asserting that Kane's impact on the pitch has not been commensurate with his reputation.
"I don't feel he will be any better for England next time. And I don't feel he will be any better for Bayern next year," Hamman wrote.
"Kane scored 36 Bundesliga goals last season, but when they needed him, he wasn't there. It's not Kane's fault if some of his teammates are too focused on themselves. But if I'm the €100 million man, I sometimes have to create a goal-scoring opportunity on my own or out of nowhere. He's so far away from that that it's not possible. If I were Bayern's manager, I wouldn't be comfortable seeing Kane running around at the European Championships.
"And Southgate has to think about what he's going to do with Harry Kane. With Ollie Watkins, you have an agile striker who goes into spaces that Kane doesn't go into or can't get to at all. Kane turns 31 in July and has three years left on his contract in Munich. Bayern is in a state of upheaval and wants to get back into the world's elite, but when I look at the world's elite, Kane's performance has nothing to do with that."
WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?
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If Southgate drops both Bellingham and Kane from the lineup against Slovakia on Sunday it would be a massive call. He must balance loyalty to his established players with the pressing need for a tactical shake-up to rejuvenate the squad's performance. The calls for change are not just about individual form but also about finding the right chemistry and dynamism to advance further in the tournament.
