England secured a 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the match exposed concerns that don’t quite match the ease of the scoreline. After the game, The Guardian commented on how Gareth Southgate’s reliance on Luke Shaw’s fitness for the left-back position could potentially jeopardize the team’s prospects.
Against Bosnia, England spent much of the match seeking balance. Southgate’s experimental lineup struggled, particularly in the absence of Luke Shaw’s attacking and defensive contributions from the left-back role, causing noticeable disruptions in the team’s attacking flow. Complicating matters, neither Chilwell nor Mitchell made it into England’s initial 33-man squad.
Southgate is banking on Shaw’s fitness for the Euros, despite the Manchester United defender’s recent injury issues. There are no guarantees he will remain injury-free throughout the tournament, given his lack of match action since February. Yet, Southgate has effectively placed a bet, reminiscent of Glenn Hoddle taking only Graeme Le Saux as a left-back to the 1998 World Cup. Without a designated backup for Shaw, Southgate risks facing a similar situation to Hoddle, who had to field an unaccustomed player – himself – when Le Saux was forced off in the Round of 16 loss to Argentina.
While England can fall back on Kieran Trippier, should Shaw miss the opening Euro fixture against Serbia on June 16, the experienced Trippier would undoubtedly step in. However, as a right-footed player, Trippier, despite his excellent delivery, might not be as effective or comfortable on the left side, and left-back is not his natural position.
Players have adapted and thrived in unfamiliar roles before, like Ashley Young in the 2018 World Cup and Trippier in the previous Euros. Nevertheless, when England’s left-sided attacks require the support and interplay of a specialist left-back, Southgate and England fans will undoubtedly yearn for the dynamic Luke Shaw, who raced up and down the flank during the 2020 Euros. Time is now of the essence for England’s left defensive position.