Gareth Southgate’s biggest mistake at Euro 2024 has been exposed as England’s left-back’s problem threatens to be his downfall

Ask any England fan to pick a trait of Gareth Southgate’s management style and the words ‘risk’ and ‘aversion’ are sure to come up. The coach’s caution explains why he has always preferred to have two holding midfielders and why he has been careful to call up players in his squad as soon as they start to make a name for themselves at his club.

But lately he has thrown caution to the wind and gone against his usual nature. In March, he quickly brought the then 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo into the team after initially leaving him out. In May, he dropped former servants Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford from his provisional squad for Euro 2024, before also snubbing Jack Grealish from his final squad. He also signed Adam Wharton despite having less than four months’ experience in the top flight.

But the biggest risk Southgate took was including Luke Shaw in his Euro squad despite being injured since February. And now that decision, along with the decision not to choose any other natural left-back as a substitute, seems like the coach’s biggest mistake…