Former England striker Stan Collymore has issued a stark warning to Gareth Southgate's side, insisting they must 'sharpen up at the back' to survive what he predicts will be a 'Mexican onslaught' in their upcoming international friendly.
Defensive Frailties Exposed
Collymore, who earned three caps for England between 1995 and 1997, pointed to recent performances where the Three Lions have conceded soft goals. He highlighted the 3-3 draw with Germany and the 1-0 defeat to Italy as evidence that defensive organisation remains a concern.
'England have got to tighten up. We cannot keep giving away cheap goals and expect to beat top sides,' Collymore told Birmingham World. 'Mexico will be quick, technical, and they will punish any mistakes.'
Mexico's Threat
The Mexican national team, ranked 12th in the FIFA World Rankings, boast a potent attack led by Raúl Jiménez and Hirving Lozano. Collymore emphasised that England's backline, likely to feature Harry Maguire and John Stones, must be at their best to contain them.
'Mexico are not a team you can afford to switch off against. They have players who can hurt you from anywhere on the pitch,' he added.
Southgate's Selection Dilemma
With Euro 2024 on the horizon, Collymore believes Southgate must use this friendly to solidify his defensive options. He suggested that experimentation should be limited, and a settled partnership is needed.
'We know what our attacking players can do. The question is whether we can keep clean sheets against the best teams. That's what wins tournaments,' Collymore said.
Statistical Context
England have kept just one clean sheet in their last five matches, conceding an average of 1.6 goals per game. In contrast, Mexico have scored in seven of their last eight outings, averaging 2.1 goals per match.
Collymore concluded: 'If England don't improve defensively, Mexico will exploit them. It's as simple as that.'
