World Cup 2018: 4 changes England could make going into their second match

#2: Sterling out, Loftus-Cheek in

Unleashing Ruben Loftus-Cheek could also help to take the shackles off Dele Alli

The player who seems to be coming in for the most criticism after the Tunisia match is Raheem Sterling, and while he’s often unfairly maligned by the media on this occasion they have a point – he was profligate in front of goal and just didn’t have his best game overall. It’s likely Gareth Southgate will stick with him against Panama, but if he decides another option is best, the man for the job could be Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Many fans would call for a straight swap and have Marcus Rashford replace Sterling at the front of England’s attack alongside Harry Kane, but while that’d provide England with another exciting option, it might make more sense to utilise Loftus-Cheek in one of the midfield berths, probably alongside Jesse Lingard. Why? Because that’d allow Dele Alli to move forward alongside Kane.

Alli and Kane have shown an almost telepathic understanding at times for Tottenham, but due to Sterling’s position in the England side that hasn’t really come to fruition at international level yet. Moving Loftus-Cheek into the middle though would not only provide the Three Lions with a boost in terms of power and pace, but it’d allow Alli to link up with Kane, and as Spurs have shown, it’s a dangerous partnership for any opponent.

Plus, Loftus-Cheek looked fantastic in his brief cameo against Tunisia, providing a handful of chances in just a few minutes. Many fans have called him England’s wild card – it’s time for Southgate to use him.