Five talking points ahead of England v Scotland

10 November 2016 13:23

England play their final competitive match of a dreadfully disappointing 2016 on Friday, with neighbours and oldest rivals Scotland the visitors to Wembley.

Here we look at five key issues around the team.

AN ACT OF REMEMBRANCE

There has been nothing mealy-mouthed about the Football Association's commitment to marking Armistice Day. A handful of more concessionary measures were available but a decision was made that the sacrifices of the past and present would be honoured on the pitch, with players wearing poppy symbols on black armbands. The squad and staff stand united behind it.

FIFA is clear that it cannot sanction the gesture and have been vague about what action, if any, it will levy against the FA and SFA. Financial penalties or, more drastically, points deductions remain live options and the issue will run long after the final whistle.

WILL SOUTHGATE'S STOCK RISE OR FALL?

The Scotland game represents the penultimate match of Gareth Southgate's temporary stint at the helm. The former Middlesbrough manager has been careful not to look beyond the original agreement and has yet to publicly covet the post despite being the heavy favourite.

Yet he will know what happens on the field far outweighs what is said to the cameras and a compelling victory over England's oldest rivals would leave the team sitting pretty in qualification as well as providing some major leverage for future discussions.

Equally, a stodgy outing like the one in Slovenia last month would amplify questions about his readiness and further muddy the waters around Sam Allardyce's replacement.

A SHOT AT ROO-DEMPTION

England captain Wayne Rooney reacted to his dropping in Ljubljana with admirably good grace, fronting up on the eve of the match and giving his all when he was called as a substitute.

Southgate needs him to be more than a good soldier this week, though, and will lean on Rooney's depth of experience to help overpower the Scots.

Dele Alli's injury reopens the number 10 role that seems the best fit for the skipper and an evocative fixture such as this provides the chance for him to give his international career a big shot in the arm. Rooney has only scored two goals all season but will know all too well this is the perfect platform for him to reassert his calibre.

ON THE LOOKOUT FOR LEADERS

Ever since the limp capitulation against Iceland at Euro 2016, there have been question marks over the on-field leadership of the side. The well of motivational figures is said to have run dry since the likes of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Steven Gerrard became ghosts of England past.

Rooney has matured impressively in many ways but he will never be an overtly magnetic figure and he needs help. Jordan Henderson has won many plaudits for his work as Gerrard's successor at Liverpool, Joe Hart was once considered captaincy material and the likes of Gary Cahill, John Stones and Eric Dier all occupy important tactical positions on the field. One or more of those will need to grow into the occasion and take matters in hand to achieve the desired result.

CAN KANE ANSWER THE CALL?

It would be a big ask for Harry Kane to start against the Scots, having managed just 73 minutes of first-team football since returning from a seven-week lay-off. Yet the Tottenham talisman is ever willing to do his duty and has never been known to shirk. As far as he is concerned, fit for Spurs means fit for England and his working relationship with Southgate - which stretches back to the under-21s - is a strong one. With Daniel Sturridge and Jamie Vardy having their own struggles at club level this term, Kane looks likely to bear the bulk of the goal scoring burden.

Source: PA