Amidst calls for Gareth Southgate to alter his strategy for Euro 2024, Adam Wharton boldly backed himself to have an influence for England. The Three Lions were heavy favorites to win the tournament going into it, but they looked quite poor in their first two group matches against Denmark and Serbia.
Following England’s draw with Denmark, Southgate infuriated supporters of the national team by bemoaning the absence of a worthy successor for Kalvin Phillips, the midfield player for Manchester City. Phillips, who joined Pep Guardiola’s team two years ago after leaving Leeds, has struggled with form and fitness, thus he was left off the roster.
Wharton Speaks Out
Trent Alexander-Arnold started in midfield alongside Declan Rice against Serbia and Denmark but was the first England player to be substituted in both games. Southgate included youngsters Wharton and Kobbie Mainoo in the squad after their pair enjoyed breakout seasons for Crystal Palace and Manchester United respectively, and there is appetite among supporters for one of them to be given a chance in the Three Lions’ final group game against Slovenia on Tuesday.
Wharton said that he will be ready if he is given the nod. “I have got belief that no matter who, where, when I play football, I can affect a game, so you have to think like that,” said the 20-year-old. “If I think I can’t handle this, then what am I doing here? The way I look at it now, I believe I can affect any game I play so I am just making sure I am ready if I am called upon to help.
“If you look at the last European Championship, one of England’s top players, Kalvin, helped us go to the final. I believe you would be saying the same thing if someone similar was competing in this competition. Since I haven’t seen a lot of him in the last several seasons, it’s hard to say. Although there may be some similarities between our playing styles and physical characteristics, there will undoubtedly be some areas in which I excel and some in which he does not.”
Wharton: Bellingham and Foden Can Produce Magic
Wharton joined Palace from Championship side Blackburn during this year’s winter transfer window and was a key cog in Oliver Glasner’s side that finished the season as one of the form teams in the Premier League. Wharton said he doesn’t view himself as a “special” player as he referenced Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden as the players who can make the difference for England at the tournament.
“If I was to describe my game I would just say ‘it’s pretty simple but effective.’ If you’ve got great players in attack, like the (Jude) Bellinghams, the (Phil) Fodens, then you have to get them in the pockets,” Wharton said. “All I want to do if you’ve got players like that is give them the ball because that’s when they come alive to produce bits of magic, create chances, score goals, things like that.”
