In the European Championships of the 21st century, only four Britons have been nominated. Gareth Southgate ended his first international career, even though Wayne Rooney did lose his place after 13 years on the roster for Euro 2004.
With England set to start preparing for Euro 2024, Southgate's loyalty to the other two countries will be tested. They have always been his talismans, his progressive face of England. For everyone, a difficult season can lose status.
Not Kyle Walker, even if the treble winner sometimes finds himself outside Pep Guardiola's strongest team and turns 34 ahead of next summer's German championship. But Harry Maguire and Raheem Sterling are Southgate's twin success stories, but they have few fond memories of 2022/23.
Harry Maguire has hosted at least one fantastic World Cup, but his current club appears to face a bleak future.
Raheem Sterling may not need a transfer, but he also can't afford another season like last season.
Maguire certainly needs a change of circumstances, with Sterling changing wealth after changing managers; Given that this is Chelsea, this is another. The winger proved that finding new ranches could backfire. However, the defender suffered from staying and was relegated to United's last centre-back. With Erik ten Hag's preference for Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez evident, Maguire hovered over the edge. In United's last 36 league games, he has started just six.
Southgate diplomatically said: "He's captain of an incredible football club, so it's a difficult situation and he's obviously going to be frustrated by not being able to play as much as he would like, but I think he's handled it well. ”
But Maguire must play to protect his international standing. "It's obvious, really," Southgate added. "I think he and Calvin [Phillips] are the two people with the fewest players in the team this season, but we went with them because in those two positions we think they're still ahead of others who could play more. But when the game becomes more even, and you don't have regular matches to check their status and health, it's hard. ”
Maguire benefited from a lack of options: he felt a drop between him and John Stones and supporting roles in Eric Dier, Tyrone Mings, and Conor Coady, so he was put under skepticism. But the appearance of Marc Guehi and Levi Colwill could change that; As Southgate suggests, Maguire's excellent service in 57 international careers can only protect him for so long.
Sterling suffered because of a higher level of replacement. He finished the World Cup off the bench, although in part because his match was interrupted by a home burglary and required a brief return to England. He missed the June game following talks with Southgate in hopes of recovering from a troubled season. England did not miss him.
Bukayo Aka scored a hat-trick against North Macedonia. Marcus Rashford scored a goal. His 30 club goals this season are the best of his career. Raheem Sterling, who scored 31 points himself in 2019/20, was Chelsea's joint top scorer in his first year at Stamford Bridge, but had just nine points.
While Southgate did not guarantee that Aka was one of Harry Kane's positions on either side, the Arsenal winger appeared excited. That could put Sterling in a bid for a spot with the more potent Rashford, with two treble titles from Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, plus plenty of talent from James Maddison.
Southgate said: "There is a more level playing field now. "In the past, he was the name on the team list. If we had all these players when we needed it, it would be fantastic, but it rarely happens. What we do know is that he scored incredible goals, important goals for us. His goal is crucial. ”
Will they come again? Perhaps Mauricio Pochettino will prove to be what Sterling needs, while Graham Potter certainly isn't. The dynamics of Chelsea's attack – Joao Felix gone, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz likely to follow, but Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson could join – have shrouded the future of his club and country in uncertainty.
He has to go back to England first and then to the team.
Southgate drew on his experience working with Sterling to predict the Renaissance. "I hope he responds," he said. "He has not been happy with this season at the club this year, the part he has to do well this summer is his fitness and I hope he can fly next year. He's a fighter. ”
If both teams from Euro 2020 are to make it to England for Euro 2024, Sling may need to be like Maguire.