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Poor man's Mbappe

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 Some cracking games the last few days. I'm not going to recap them this evening as I'm getting my game face on for England vs Wales, so thought I'd share my pre-match thoughts. This post therefore has a very short shelf-life and I'll likely look foolish pretty much right after I've hit the publish button.

Team selection: not too much to disagree with here. I'm rarely excited about seeing Henderson alongside Rice in our midfield, but I understand why its happened. I'm not massively excited about Stones and Macguire as a CB partnership, but given their form together in the two games so far, I understand why its happened. Swapping out the set-piece threat of Trippier for lockdown punter Walker doesn't massively excite me, but I understand why its happened. The whole selection is a microcosm of the Southgate pragmatism. Its all based in sound logic, but just isn't exciting. Just as with Grealish last tournament, he seems to have begrudgingly come around to public opinion by including Foden. It all feels the opposite of front foot. Yet despite my apparent despondency, its a good side that could very well do a job. Like I said in a previous post, I feel it would be despite Southgate rather than because of him.

To be fair, I'm not leaving him any room to change my mind really - and I'm at peace with that. I want a manager with presence and spirit, not a meek logician. But we are where we are. The game could actually be excellent. An hour ago I was massively confident, but as I write this watching the build up, I'm remembering the frailties of our as yet untested defence (2 weeks ago, the prospect of Harry Macguire was terrifying), I'm fearing the veteran midfield tussle that Hendo will have with Joe Allen, a battle of waning endurance. Will Pickford go on one of his mental rollercoasters? Yep nerves are setting in, but that if anything should make it a better watch.

On the positive side, Bellingham is good, Kane is class, and whilst Rashford is something of a budget Mbappe (in terms of pace and style), its better than watching the likes of Daniel Sturridge wearing the shirt. 

Right, I have children to bath and dispatch to bed before kick off. Enjoy the game. My prediction. 3-1 England and a resurgence of "its coming home" hype all day tomorrow.

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