Bulgaria 0-6 England: 5 Talking Points | Euro 2020 Qualifiers

#2 Southgate with an ongoing midfield dilemma to ponder

Tottenham's Harry Winks started here, with Chelsea playmaker Mason Mount featuring from the bench

Despite perceived progress after last summer's World Cup campaign, England have often fallen short against challenging opposition in the past twelve months. Friday's result was a testament to that and why in the future, Gareth Southgate has a real midfield dilemma to ponder with a multitude of capable players at his disposal. Some of them weren't involved within this 23-man squad and he'll look to utilize them all in different capacities with next summer's Euros fast approaching.

The issue is, striking the right balance. He has been rightly questioned for adopting too much of a defensive approach against sides that would rather invite pressure than create their own and that all starts with Jordan Henderson's presence in the middle. Prone to needless mistakes which get himself into trouble, the Liverpool captain is dependable but unspectacular, regularly doing the simple things well. Having him alongside West Ham's highly-rated Declan Rice, nine years his senior immediately portrays a defensive mindset.

Both have their strengths and weaknesses, though neither are particularly the quickest and were essentially exposed on Friday - being bypassed too easily in transition, which is counter-productive when you're acting as the final protector for your backline.

Harry Winks has long been heralded as the man to solve England's problems but he, like Ross Barkley, James Maddison, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, is more suited to creative-minded responsibilities. All four can do a holding midfield role to varying degrees of success, but you see where the problem is brewing right? Not all of them can play in the same midfield because stability is essential too.

Mason Mount's emergence for Chelsea this term has seen him granted an opportunity to showcase his playmaking talents on the international stage, though there are questions over whether he can truly fit into a 4-3-3 formation without seeing his abilities shackled. It doesn't seem like Southgate knows his best midfield trio, assuming the Sterling-Kane-Sancho trident starts in attack. With eight months to go until the Euros, time is of the essence.