{"id":1363126,"date":"2024-09-10T21:55:25","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T20:55:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1363126"},"modified":"2024-09-10T22:23:35","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T21:23:35","slug":"england-finland-nations-league-angel-gomes","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/england-finland-nations-league-angel-gomes\/","title":{"rendered":"“He looks comfortable out there” – Angel Gomes shines as England defeats Finland 2-0 on Harry Kane’s special night"},"content":{"rendered":"

Interim England boss Lee Carsley secured his second consecutive win, further bolstering his case for a permanent appointment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following a relatively trouble-free victory over Ireland in their Nations League opener, England secured another straightforward 2-0 success against Finland at Wembley, and on the night that Harry Kane won his 100th cap, it was a first-time starter who could potentially be the cornerstone to usher in a new Three Lions era.<\/p>\n

From last time out, there were four changes to England’s starting lineup\u2014Rico Lewis, Angel Gomes, Ezri Konsa, and John Stones in for Levi Colwill, Kobbie Mainoo, Marc Guehi, and Harry Maguire\u2014but it was Gomes, making his second appearance (the same as Lewis), who stood out in particular.<\/p>\n

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Having played under Carsley at the U21 level, his ascent has been a long time coming and one his former Manchester United youth team coach felt was inevitable, as Gomes possesses a particular set of skills that are rare in an England jersey.<\/p>\n

“A Frenkie de Jong who can receive the ball off the back four and then move away, use disguises and so on,” Paul McGuinness told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n

“Someone who has those skills to receive the ball with their back to goal to start the play and keep control. We’ve seen Rodri do it for Spain and Man City. That’s one profile that we would be trying to promote within our country to try and improve. We searched within the FA to try and improve that type of midfield player. That’s the type of player Angel is.”<\/p>\n

It matches Carsley’s description of the player and hints at Gomes being an England regular, not just an experiment, during the interim manager’s tenure, however long it may be.<\/p>\n

“Angel’s different to what we’ve got in terms of a player who can play deeper but play like a ten. He’s very skillful, the way he can receive balls, the way he can control games,” he said, while ex-Lille boss Paulo Fonseca said in April: \u201cAngel is maybe the most intelligent player I have in my team.\u201d<\/p>\n

And Gomes himself, asked recently to reel off his positions, replied: \u201cLeft wing, right wing, number 10, high number 8, number 6, and double pivot.\u201d Just as the Under-21s did, Carsley believes England\u2019s senior team can reap the rewards.<\/p>\n

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A first #ThreeLions<\/a> start for @agomes_47<\/a>! ? pic.twitter.com\/iEd7d8pyRd<\/a><\/p>\n

— England (@England) September 10, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n