World Cup 2022: England 'step up' in Wales win and show frightening depth of Gareth Southgate's squad

Following England's dour goalless gully with the United States, manager Gareth Southgate made 4 changes for the important crippled against Wales.

It proved an inspired decision, with the brace scoring England's 3 goals to nonstop t heir squad into the circular of 16 arsenic Group B winners.

Speaking astatine his post-match quality conference, Southgate said helium was impressed by however the large names who person had to instrumentality squad subordinate roles successful this England broadside produced erstwhile it counted.

"Watching tons of games the large players person stepped up," helium said. "Our forwards didn't bash that successful the archetypal fractional but successful the 2nd fractional they truly did.

"You request goals from each areas. It is simply a occupation for absorption if the menace is coming from different areas of the pitch. It is contention for places and radical person to deliver."

The 3-0 triumph implicit Wales demonstrated the embarrassment of riches successful Southgate's squad, and however adjacent erstwhile first-choice players are near out, England are inactive susceptible of blowing players away.

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Bukayo Saka scored doubly successful the opening radical crippled against Iran, portion Raheem Sterling was besides connected the scoresheet.

Both failed to nutrient against the USA and they were near connected the seat connected Tuesday nighttime arsenic Rashford and Foden came in.

On this evidence, it could beryllium pugnacious for either Sterling oregon Saka to triumph their places backmost - though Southgate would person fewer concerns astir reintroducing 2 of his astir reliable charges without disrupting the momentum England person rediscovered.

For Foden and Rashford, their starring roles were justified Southgate's determination to prime them.

Foden was an unused substitute against the United States, to the consternation of galore England fans and pundits. The Manchester City prima has not ever brought his nine signifier to planetary level, but against Wales helium showed the guile and flair which the Three Lions sorely lacked past Friday night.

For Rashford, it has been a stunning instrumentality to the planetary country aft helium had not played for England betwixt the last of Euro 2020 and the opening crippled of this World Cup.

Rashford missed a punishment successful the Euros last shootout against Italy, portion Foden did not play due to the fact that of injury. Both threw disconnected immoderate intelligence shackles whitethorn person remained from that nighttime astatine Wembley with their performances.

Even arsenic England were incapable to find a breakthrough successful the archetypal fractional against Wales, Rashford and Foden were the biggest threats.

In the opening 45 minutes, the brace had the astir shots - Rashford with three, Foden two.

Some half-time tweaks - Southgate had the brace power wings for the 2nd half, Rashford going down the close alternatively with Foden connected the near - provided England with the spark they needed, and 2 goals successful 98 seconds soon aft the interruption was their reward.

The opening extremity was a stellar free-kick from Rashford, the archetypal nonstop free-kick scored astatine Qatar 2022 - meaning the past 2 specified goals scored astatine World Cups person some travel from England players, pursuing Kieran Trippier's onslaught against Croatia successful the semi-final astatine Russia 2018.

It was not conscionable successful onslaught that England showed the frightening extent they person to its fullest capacity. In midfield, Jordan Henderson replaced Mason Mount and provided the power and absorption required to wholly predominate the tempo of the match.

He was replaced soon aft England's 2nd extremity by Kalvin Phillips, who needed the minutes helium has been denied astatine Manchester City some by wounded and a reduced squad role. Even against constricted opposition, the erstwhile Leeds antheral showed flashes which show again wherefore Southgate rates him truthful highly.

In defence, Kyle Walker played for the archetypal clip successful Qatar and looked untroubled by the wounded that kept him retired of the Iran and USA games.

From the bench, Jack Grealish again produced a lightning cameo filled with attacking intent. There was not adjacent abstraction to springiness James Maddison a World Cup bow, aft helium was yet disposable to Southgate pursuing his ain fittingness issues.

It is inactive successful onslaught wherever England person the astir enviable extent - the 9 goals they person scored successful Qatar truthful acold is the astir they person managed successful immoderate radical stage, and means they are present lone 4 disconnected their champion tally astatine a large tournament.

All this without Kane getting connected the scoresheet yet, arsenic helium remains stuck 2 goals down Wayne Rooney's each clip record. Not that the skipper is failing to propulsion his value - helium acceptable up Foden's goal, taking his assistance tally to 3 truthful far.

He is the archetypal England subordinate to grounds this galore assists astatine a World Cup since 1 of his predecessors with the armband, David Beckham, successful 2002.

This each leaves Southgate with a superior enactment headache for the last-16 gathering with Senegal connected Sunday evening. It is simply a pain, however, helium volition happily welcome.

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