Kyle Walker Shines Bright: Cementing His Legacy as England's Finest Right-Back in Thrilling Draw Against Ukraine

Gareth Southgate will take away several key lessons from Saturday's 1-1 draw against Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifying. Firstly, Kyle Walker is undoubtedly England's finest right-back to date. However, it is evident that Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire can no longer be classified as regulars in the first-team. Furthermore, James Maddison still has much room for growth in the realm of international football. Lastly, England cannot afford to perform at just 70 percent and expect to easily defeat a formidable opposition.

Walker's 77th cap for his country marked a moment of pure beauty. With a remarkable run, an impeccable first touch, and a determined finish, his first goal was simply breathtaking. It's hard to believe he hadn't accomplished it countless times before.

However, in our conversation afterwards, Walker confessed his genuine surprise and complete uncertainty about how to celebrate. He humbly stated that his focus has always been on preventing goals, rather than scoring them.

Walker demonstrated his exceptional defensive prowess once again at the Wroclaw Stadium. Despite facing the speedy Mykhailo Mudryk, the Manchester City player never allowed the Chelsea winger to outwit him, consistently conceding only a few yards.

In the later stages of the game, Henderson and Jordan Pickford applauded Walker for his crucial intervention in halting Mudryk's threatening attack. Walker's defensive move was understated but effective, as he closed down the winger, positioned himself between the attacker and the goal, and used his physicality to prevent a scoring opportunity, ultimately causing the ball to go out for a goal kick. It was a brilliant display of defensive skill. This brings us to the topic of discussion: in my opinion, there has never been a more exceptional right-back representing England.

The most obvious counter-argument will name George Cohen, England's World Cup winner. It's a strong case.

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Kyle Walker celebrates his equaliser

Walker's contributions to his international career in helping England win a major trophy should not be overlooked, despite the team's failure to do so. It is undeniable that if England had emerged victorious in the 2021 Euros final, there would be no room for debate.

Comparing Walker to the esteemed Gary Neville, it is worth noting that the latter, with 85 caps, surpassed Walker's current tally of 77 caps. However, Neville never had the opportunity to play in a European Championship final or a World Cup semi-final. Therefore, I contend that Walker's current importance to the England team surpasses that of Neville during his time.

As time goes by, Henderson and Maguire are posing increasing challenges for Southgate. It is undeniable that he desires to have both of them in his squad for the upcoming Euros, including next summer. These two players have always been crucial contributors to the team and have never disappointed England. Additionally, they exhibit strong leadership qualities both on and off the field.

However, when Southgate revealed his squad two weeks ago, he openly acknowledged the troubles caused by Maguire's limited playing time at Manchester United and the uncertainty surrounding Henderson's club football in Saudi Arabia. This situation has become a source of frustration for the England manager.

Both looked rusty against Ukraine.

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Jordan Henderson played his first England game since his move to Saudi Arabia

Maguire's passing was rather sloppy, which could be attributed to his limited playing time of only 23 minutes this season. Although he didn't make any major mistakes, there were noticeable flaws in his passing accuracy.

Henderson initially contributed well to the team's play, but his positioning frequently raised doubts. His forward runs often resulted in a lack of space for Jude Bellingham, and his defensive-oriented mindset mirrored that of Declan Rice.

Not only Maguire and Henderson, but also others were responsible for Zinchenko's goal. Henderson failed to follow the two Ukraine runners from midfield, while Maguire did not recognize the threat when Yukhym Konoplya passed the ball backwards. Instead of realizing there was excessive space around England's penalty spot, Maguire was focused on the ball. The future role of these two players in England's qualifiers and beyond is uncertain.

James Maddison has had an outstanding beginning to the season with Tottenham. However, his success has mostly come from playing in a No 10 position, allowing him the freedom to move around. In the game against Ukraine, Southgate positioned him on the left wing, a role he often plays for his national team. Similar to Henderson, Maddison showed promise at the start of the game. He skillfully drifted inside, serving as the driving force behind England's rhythm and effectively creating opportunities by stretching the play and finding openings in the defense.

However, his frustration mounted rapidly as he was denied three fouls, two of which likely would have been granted in the Premier League. Instead of adjusting to the situation, he responded by impulsively confronting a Ukrainian defender and earning an unnecessary yellow card. Consequently, this could have potentially resulted in his premature substitution.

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James Maddison was booked out in Wroclaw

He possesses the football acumen to adjust, but he evidently did not perform at his peak.

Adding Maddison to the lineup will appease those who have consistently called for Southgate to select players with flair and current form. However, those very commentators and fans will continue to urge for more playing time for individuals like Phil Foden, who seemed slightly out of sync as a substitute in the second half, Eberechi Eze, and Marcus Rashford, who showed his prowess as a threat upon entering the match.

Nevertheless, the fact that any draw is now regarded as a source of disappointment demonstrates the significant shift in expectations for the England team. This sentiment persists even when considering a draw achieved on foreign soil amidst a boisterous atmosphere and against a formidable adversary. It is noteworthy that said opponent had managed to maintain an undefeated status. Furthermore, this result propels England six points ahead at the summit of Group C, making their qualification for Euro 2024 nearly inevitable.