Day -455 WorldCup2018
You know the next round of qualifiers are getting closer when teams name the squads that will lace up, or bench warm, for the upcoming matches. In today's announcements Wales named a 17 year old, Liverpool's Ben Woodburn, for his first call up to the senior team. Woodburn could have played for England but chose his grandfather's country.
At the other end of the spectrum many England fans wished that Jermaine Defoe had a Welsh grandfather but, alas, the 34 year old will be part of the England squad after a three year absence. For many long suffering England fans, it begs the question: is there really no younger, better goalscorer in England than a player playing for what is basically a second division team? And the answer is no. Well, not right now. Harry Kane and Daniel Sturridge are injured. Wayne Rooney can't decide if he is a midfielder or striker and neither can his club or country manager. And he's injured anyway. Andy Carroll? Ah ok. Marcus Rashford, Man United's 19 year old star is in the team. He hasn't been as hot this year so Gareth Southgate, the England manager, will have to decide between the still unproven youngster and the "I can't believe I might be playing for England again" veteran.
England also have the same question of lack of available talent in defence. Southgate has picked Luke Shaw, who missed a year to injury, and has only started one game for Man United in five months. Southgate said he didn't pick Carroll and Theo Walcott because they haven't been playing enough. But he picked Shaw to "give him a boost." Who are we to question the manager's reasoning?
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