Czech Republic 2-1 England: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | European Qualifiers 2019/20

#4 Mason Mount endures a debut to forget

Mason Mount (R) had a debut to forget

Before the international break, Gareth Southgate made the headlines courtesy his bold yet equally warranted selection of Mason Mount. The youngster had impressed in the early parts of the 2019-20 season and looked capable of making the step up to the international stage.

Subsequently, the midfielder was handed his debut against the Czech Republic. Unfortunately, though, he endured a night to forget, before being hauled off.

While the Englishman looked bright in patches, he was a pale shadow from the player that has carved open Premier League defences for fun this term. In addition, he also failed to see enough of the ball in threatening positions, meaning that he had to either pass backwards or sideways whenever he received possession.

Moreover, he was unable to wriggle out of tight pressing situations, thereby enabling the opposition midfielders to crowd him out and dispossess him.

Encouragingly though, Mount was willing to put in the hard yards defensively and he was on hand to fulfil his off-the-ball duties.

Over the past few weeks, not many footballers have generated as much hype as the youthful Englishman. Yet, rather disappointingly, he failed to deliver on that promise in Prague.

And, while the midfielder would, in all likelihood, enjoy a successful career for England, one probably reckons that he might not look back too fondly at his first encounter for the Three Lions.