John Barnes backs ‘strong’ Gareth Southgate to get balance right for England
The manager is leading his country into a fourth major tournament having reached a semi-final, quarter-final and a final.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.John Barnes does not believe England head coach Gareth Southgate will bow to public pressure over team selection at Euro 2024.
There has been a clamour for Southgate to accommodate as many of his world-class offensive talents as possible in his starting line-up for the tournament in Germany, with attack-minded players starring at club level both at home and abroad.
But former England and Liverpool winger Barnes insists the side’s balance is all-important as the Three Lions bid for their first major trophy since 1966.
Barnes, who won 79 England caps between 1983 and 1995, told the PA news agency: “I don’t look at individuals at all, I look at the balance of the team. Gareth has to resist the urge to play all his attacking players.
“And of course what’s going to happen when he leaves someone out? He’s going to get criticised. Why didn’t he play and why didn’t he play?
“But Gareth is strong enough to understand that and the fans have to support him.”
Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane have been star attractions for their clubs this season but Barnes is not sure there can be a place for all of them in England’s starting XI.
When asked if Bellingham can make the same impact for England at the Euros as he has done in a stellar first season for Real Madrid, Barnes said: “Well if he does, Phil Foden won’t. There’s only one football.
“If Foden does, then maybe Saka won’t or Jack Grealish and somebody else.
“So when you’re looking at Jude Bellingham, you have to think about Phil Foden as well.”
The likes of Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins, Anthony Gordon and Eberechi Eze all also finished the season in eye-catching form.
“The problem England have got,” Barnes added. “Is they have so many good, attacking playmakers and you can’t play them all.”
Southgate led England to the last four of the 2018 World Cup, to the Euro 2020 final and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals, ramping up expectation in some quarters that it is time for him to deliver a first major trophy in 58 years with the talent at his disposal.
But Barnes, who considers France as the team to beat, does not agree that only victory in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on July 14 would be considered a success.
“I don’t think England are the favourites, so why should they win it?” he added. “I don’t see why Gareth gets criticised at all because he’s maximised the potential of the team.
“With a bit of luck we can win it and I don’t think there’s pressure on him at all because everybody knows this is his last tournament and if he was staying, there would be lots more pressure on him.
“If you’re asking if England can win it, yes we can. I would make us one of the favourites, but not the outright favourites.
“If we get knocked out before the quarter-finals then of course that will be disappointing, but I don’t think that will happen.”
:: England and Liverpool great John Barnes has teamed up with plant-based food company THIS™ to launch a summer BBQ ‘banger’ ahead of the Euros and will feature in a promotional song ‘THIS™ Is The One’ 34 years after the release of his 1990 World Cup hit World in Motion. Watch the ‘THIS™ Is The One’ music video here: https://youtu.be/N3vDycnLkK4