Reuters
Soccer Football – World Cup – UEFA Qualifiers – Group I – Hungary v England – Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary – September 2, 2021 England’s Bukayo Saka comes on as a substitute to replace Jack Grealish REUTERS/Carl Recine
Reuters
Soccer Football – World Cup – UEFA Qualifiers – Group I – Hungary v England – Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary – September 2, 2021 England’s Bukayo Saka comes on as a substitute to replace Jack Grealish REUTERS/Carl Recine
England has had a history of underachieving in international competitions this century. They failed to win a single trophy with a team that boasted the likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, and Paul Scholes.
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At the time, the blame was put on the manager and the team’s chemistry. However, those days have gone by now, and the English national team is shaping up pretty well. Players like Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson, and even Raheem Sterling are relative veterans who form a great partnership with the team’s young core.
England probably has one of the deepest squads in the world when it comes to wingers. The nation boasts players like Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Jack Grealish, who are all very young and can do a fantastic job for the country.
Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith-Rowe’s fantastic form this season
However, following them up is another generation of talents like Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, and Jarrod Bowen who have all been in fantastic form in the Premier League. Arsenal duo of Saka and Smith Rowe has been particularly outstanding this season under Mikel Arteta.
Both Saka and Smith Rowe have scored ten goals in the Premier League this season, the most by players under the age of 21 in England. They are third on the list of Under-21 scorers in the top-five leagues, only behind Erling Haaland and Vinicius Jr.
Moreover, Saka has five assists to go with his ten goals, while Smith-Rowe has two. It’s not all about the numbers though, as Arsenal have benefitted greatly because of the versatility of both of these stars.
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Saka had already featured in the UEFA 2020 Euros for England and is almost certain to have a place in Gareth Southgate’s squad.
On the other hand, Smith Rowe has not been a regular fixture in the national team, but if he continues like this, then he’ll find himself in the squad too.
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Written by
Edited by
Melroy Fernandes