‘Composed’ Marc Guehi earns praise of Gareth Southgate in England draw
With John Stones injured, other centre-backs have had to step up this month and Crystal Palace’s Guehi delivered a self-assured display alongside Harry Maguire as England remained unbeaten at the top of Group C on the road to Germany.
Guehi made his England debut in a friendly win over Switzerland in March of last year and Saturday’s draw in Wroclaw, Poland was his fifth appearance for his country.
“That’s a really great test for a young centre-back in one of his first qualifying games for us”, Southgate said.
“I thought he came through it really well. Good composure, never looked rushed and was positionally good. So I’m very pleased with what he did.”
Harry Kane assisted Kyle Walker for England’s only goal of the game, and insisted his passing range is a string to his bow.
“It’s a huge part of my game”, the England captain said. “I need to be on the ball to try and make things happen. I can hurt an opposition with my passing; I think the boys know that as well.
“We controlled the game for pretty much 90 per cent of it. We just lacked a little bit in the final third. We were a little bit unlucky — we hit the bar. We weren’t at our best but we’ve still come away with a point, which is the sign of a good team.”
