England coach Gareth Southgate has expressed concern over his team’s dependence on Harry Kane after failing to score against Italy at Molineux.
The goalless draw left them without a win after three Nations League games and having scored only once in the campaign: Kane’s late penalty that equalized against Germany.
Tammy Abraham was the replacement for Kane in Saturday’s game, but he couldn’t find the net. Although Mason Mount hit the crossbar shortly after and Raheem Sterling missed from close range, the goal did not come.
“We want to win games and we’re disappointed not to win,” Southgate said. “We have two or three very good chances.
“You don’t have as many chances against the best teams. We wish we had created more with the possession we had. We depend a lot on Harry and Raheem for our goals right now and that’s a concern.”
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England midfielder Kalvin Phillips believes he was the best team ahead of Euro 2020 winner Italy despite a 0-0 draw, and says it is not a concern that they are struggling to find the bottom of the net. .
Jack Grealish started on the left after making an impact against Germany, but Southgate noted that he only had one goal attempt.
“I go back to what I say about all of our attacking players,” he added. “This is an area we need to improve if we want to progress as a team.”
Grealish’s goal-scoring record with Manchester City has not been remarkable, but perhaps Southgate took Mount into account when he noted that “there are players who score more regularly at their clubs” than at home.
The Chelsea man has not found the net in his last 15 appearances with England and has missed a great opportunity in the first half to put England ahead of Molineux.
“We continue to work to get the balls to the right areas. In the end, in the attacking areas, the quality of the game will be paramount. There has been a lack of sharpness in those areas.”
Image: Gareth Southgate’s England have not won the first three games of the League of Nations after a goalless draw with Italy
And without Kane, that could be a real problem.
“The concern is if you don’t have it for any reason,” the England coach added. “But every team trusts its best players.
“France were killed and buried last night and Kylian Mbappe has something to do with it. Our captain’s goal balance is phenomenal. But we have to start sharing that burden.”
Southgate praises Ramsdale’s performance
England’s lack of goals did not lead to defeat thanks to the performance of goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale’s man of the match, who brilliantly saved Sandro Tonali in the first half and continued to deny Roberto Mancini’s set until the end. final.
“He made some important stops and was very good at taking possession of the ball,” Southgate said of what was only the Arsenal goalkeeper’s second appearance with his country. “That’s what we hoped it would bring.”
It was not entirely flawless. “There was a poorly placed pass in the middle of the field,” Southgate recalled. But his ability with the ball at his feet was a real strength. “Overall, I think the time it took, the composure he showed, helped us build from the back.”
The return of the crowd will help England
One explanation for England not being clinical enough was the lack of urgency of a full stadium. “We were the dominant team in the second half. But we went back to that soulless experience we had during Covid.”
England were forced to play behind closed doors against Italy due to problems at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final against the same opposition last summer. Hungary will find a very different Molineux waiting for them on Tuesday evening.
“Having a full room here will be a big lift for players,” Southgate said.
“To come here and play in front without fans, [it is difficult] when you are pressing for a goal and nothing comes through the terraces and the opposite does not have that pressure.
“We are looking forward to coming here on Tuesday when the venue will bounce back.
“Right now, we could do with that help.”
Mancini: aspirant to the World Cup in England
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Italian coach Roberto Mancini believes England are one of the best teams in Europe and one of the top contenders to win the World Cup in Qatar.
Just as happened 11 months ago when Italy won the Euro 2020 final, Roberto Mancini would have been the happier of the two coaches, as his experimental team produced impressive football at Molineux.
Despite another display of toothless attack, Mancini had no doubt that England would be in the mix to reach the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
“England are one of the best teams in Europe right now, they have a lot, a lot of good players,” he said.
“Maybe they are trying something different right now, different situations, but I think they are one of the candidates to win the World Cup.”