Jack Wilshere: Subbing Conor Gallagher at half-time was harsh… but Kobbie Mainoo is clearly England’s answer in midfield
KOBBIE MAINOO was always my preference to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield.
I think he showed why in the second half tonight.
But I still feel that it was harsh on Conor Gallagher that he was taken off at half time.
Firstly because it was probably our best half of the tournament.
And secondly, because it didn’t feel like a Gareth Southgate thing to do.
It will knock Gallagher’s confidence for sure.
He will have thought that this was his chance, but he only gets a half.
Having said that, despite the disappointing result, the second half was better and Mainoo proved he is the man – or boy – to play there in future.
He’s only 19 but he understands the game so well and knows what it needs.
He is better on the ball than Gallagher and he also allowed Declan Rice to get forward even more in the second half than he had in the first.
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It might not feel like it, but England WERE better overall.
The 4-1-4-1 formation worked.
It keeps the width and gives you two pocket players, in the first half Gallagher and Bellingham, then Mainoo and Bellingham.
For Slovenia defending in their four it was hard for them to keep moving across.
Eventually one of them would be a little bit late, and that would open up a line that you could pass through.
That’s what happened for the disallowed goal and although Foden was a good way offside, that kind of pass from Rice was something we should have done more.
Mainoo proved he is the man – or boy – to play there in future
Jack Wilshere
We had more of the ball and seemed more in control. But I wanted us to be braver.
It proves the point that Declan Rice can do that position on his own.
It sounds strange to say it, but even though he was in a more withdrawn role, he seemed to have more freedom to get forward.
The best thing about Gallagher was his positioning. I thought he could have done more with the ball and he gave it away a few times.
England player ratings: Southgate's Gallagher experiment fails miserably vs Slovenia
ENGLAND served up another underwhelming performance – but still managed to top Group C.
England dominated the ball, but Southgate will have plenty of questions to answer after a third straight display that lacked inspiration.
SunSport’s Tom Barclay has given his ratings of the England players.
Jordan Pickford – 6
Largely a spectator due to England’s dominance on the ball. Asked the touchline what the Denmark score was during one break in the second half.
Kieran Trippier – 6
The one positive of having a right-footed player playing left-back is that he can dispatch in-swinging crosses, and one such one should have been headed home by Conor Gallagher before the break.
Marc Guehi – 7
Cruyff turn early doors showed his confidence from excellent displays against Serbia and Denmark, and barring one loose pass was good again.
John Stones – 6
One of many to miss his target with his passing. He wasn’t bad but, like others, way off what he has produced for his club.
Kyle Walker – 5
Played so safe, rarely looked to get forward. Was lucky at one point that Pickford was alive to his blast of a pass-back. Sliced cross after break summed up his off-night.
Conor Gallagher – 4
Got the nod after the Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment ended, but was poor, particularly, in possession and replaced at half-time by Kobbie Mainoo.
Declan Rice – 7
Had promised an “in your face” performance from his team, but he was really the only one to produce it. Very good out of possession, much better than against Denmark.
Phil Foden – 7
Liveliest of England’s attacking four by a mile and went close with a stinging free-kick. Booked for dissent, summing up England’s frustration.
Jude Bellingham – 5
Cut a very frustrated figure as he and Harry Kane got in each other’s way at times, while he was often shunted wide left as Phil Foden moved into the middle.
Bukayo Saka – 6
Tapped home on 20 minutes, but it was ruled out for offside in the build-up. OK but once again subbed after the break, perhaps due to fitness concerns.
Harry Kane – 6
Insists he is 100 per cent fit and maybe he is. What is 100 per cent certain is that he has been nowhere near as effective in this tournament as he usually is for England, albeit he was marginally better here.
Substitutes
Kobbie Mainoo (for Gallagher at half-time) – 7
Made a difference when coming on, making England much more positive in their play. So much more confident with his touch than Gallagher.
Cole Palmer (for Bukayo Saka on 71) – 7
Finally made an appearance at this tournament and one clever ball through for Mainoo showed what he can do.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Kieran Trippier on 84) – 6
Came on for the final few minutes at right-back, with Walker going to left-back.
Anthony Gordon (for Phil Foden on 88) – 6
Like Palmer, first minutes at the Euros, but too late to make an impact.
He was staying on the back of the Slovenian midfielder. That meant the player could not go and press Rice because it would have left Gallagher completely free.
He was very intelligent and disciplined in that sense. One of the reasons it wasn’t working with Trent was because Trent is a player who wants to get on the ball and make things happen. That is very hard against a block.
He gives you that energy. He’s probably not ever going to be a midfielder who can dictate the game for a team.
But it doesn’t mean he won’t be successful because he can offer something different. He can occupy players and open up space for other players.
But Mainoo does that, and more.
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Overall it was better but still some way off what I think this team can be.
It can’t be that we’re not fit, but we must have been feeling the heat. It is hard to play when it’s hot and humid.
Or maybe the gameplan was to let Slovenia have it in certain areas.
Whatever the reasons, I didn’t see an energetic, high pressing team.
Slovenia weren’t pressing like Denmark. It was only really on a backwards pass that they were more aggressive.
We needed to move the ball quicker and to pass the ball forward sooner.
Sometimes they should have missed a man out when moving it across the back and giving us the chance to go round the outside.
There were a few good combinations at a higher tempo but I felt we could have done it more. We have the players with the intelligence and quality to do it.
Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden rotated nicely at times, but Bellingham looked like he had lost a little bit of confidence, though.
We definitely needed a change on the wings and it was good to see Cole Palmer get on to the pitch.
We had so little to do defensively, we could have brought Trent on sooner.
We didn’t create enough going forward, which is disappointing given all the talent we have.
But we’re in the knockout stages, and Mainoo showed that he can get us on the front foot.
I just feel a bit sorry for Gallagher.
England need superhero Bellingham back to have any chance of winning Euro 2024
JUDE BELLINGHAM delivered a masterful, super-hero performance in the opening 45 minutes at Euro 2024, writes Charlie Wyett.
Yet we have not seen much from the boy wonder since.
Maybe he left his cloak in the dressing room at Gelsenkirchen and is still looking for it.
But he needs to discover in time for the last 16 tie this weekend otherwise England are knackered.
Approaching the serious part of Euro 2024, this team really does need to get a grip and start showing some personality.
At times against Slovenia, Bellingham just looked lost.
Let’s hope he can sprinkle some stardust in the knockout stages because Gareth Southgate certainly needs something.
Bellingham should come good. This could still be HIS tournament.
Read Charlie Wyett’s England vs Slovenia verdict in full.
Or check out all of Charlie’s Euro 2024 stories.