Are England’s Under-21 talents overrated?

Are we guilty as a nation then, of simply overrating our youngsters? It is tough to pinpoint just one reason why England international sides just don’t perform when it comes to the crunch and, so far, it seems that the Under-21s are mirroring their older peers. Yet despite arguments over the rating of individual talent, it is as a unit that England underwhelm. Unfancied Sweden, by comparison, have shown spades of spirit, unity and team play.

The Young Lions have looked far too Harry Kane-centric in the Czech Republic, with the Tottenham starlet (20/1 to be 2015 UEFA Under-21 Championship top scorer) left adrift and alone up top, expected to feed off scraps. A haul of 21 Premier League goals in his first full season for Spurs, despite suspicions he may succumb to second-season syndrome, suggests the striker’s prowess in not exaggerated though.

View Kane’s Tottenham goals:

Yet ‘Hurri-Kane’ does not have Christian Eriksen pulling the strings behind him here and should not be expected to work wonders alone. In fairness to Southgate, his substitutions, including bringing on Danny Ings to provide support, plus Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lingard, did improve England, so there is no need to write the team off just yet.

It should also be remembered that the likes of Saido Berahino, Luke Shaw, John Stones and now injured Alex Pritchard are not available for selection, and would have combined for a stronger spine.

The Young Lions’ poor output is perhaps best summed-up by their sole goalscorer so far, Lingard, who was originally left out against the Blue-Yellow. Lingard is a late bloomer, but highly effective. Intelligent, with an eye for goal and the underrated ability to keep things wonderfully simple, the 22-year-old was benched along with James Ward-Prowse after a disappointing opening outing.

Not as naturally gifted, or explosive, as Norwich City’s Nathan Redmond, Lingard can, however, help knit the team together if given the chance. The Red Devil is no world beater alone, but can bring balance, which is what the Young Lions require.

Tottenham’s Tom Carroll and Chelsea youth product Nathaniel Chalobah, meanwhile, are symptomatic of England’s recurring problems in midfield at many levels. The pair have not impressed, and Southgate must throw caution to the wind now by deploying those who will allow the play to flow. Will Hughes, for example, showed glimpses against Sweden before being replaced.

The Young Lions may not boast as much stardust as Portugal, but the talent they do have should see them sweep aside the likes of Sweden. Allowing the technically sound midfield talents of Hughes, Lingard, Loftus-Cheek and Ward-Prowse the chance to sink or swim, instead of favouring safer options, could spark England’s attack, and once again have fans, rightly or wrongly, fawning over the next generation.

Many of the aforementioned Young Lions would at least be considered by stronger squads such as Portugal and Germany, though realistically perhaps not as starters, with their creativity nurtured rather than punished, illustrating that it is teamplay not individual talent that is the overriding issue once again.