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Tottenham Hotspur defender Danny Rose is not being used correctly by England.
On the chalkboard
Gareth Southgate started the left-back in the third-place play-off against Switzerland in the Nations League on Sunday.
However, he was largely limited to playing within his own half, having been fielded behind Raheem Sterling.
Rose, though, is more a wing-back than a full-back and he saw his attacking opportunities limited by Southgate’s instructions.
Per WhoScored, he did not complete a dribble in the game, despite having 59 touches.
He did make two tackles and one interception but Rose’s strengths lie in his forward play.
He did not complete a key pass against the Swiss, and was reduced to shuttling up and down his patch of turf in his own half.
Compare that to his performance in the Champions League final, as Spurs lost 2-0 to Liverpool in Madrid.
Rose was let off the leash by Mauricio Pochettino and was actively encouraged to surge forward.
Per WhoScored, he completed four dribbles in the game, more than any other player, had two shots on goal and completed three key passes, perhaps carrying the most threat of any individual on the pitch in Madrid.
He has the ability to be a game-changing player for England if he is given licence to roam too. Against Switzerland, he wasn’t.
Missing a trick
England are missing a trick by not utilising Rose’s ability going forward.
He is a player who can deliver accurate crosses from the flank as well as splitting defences with through balls, while he also has a decent shot on him.
Southgate has got a lot right since taking the England reigns but his use of Rose against Switzerland was baffling.
He could have helped his side break them down but, instead, he was eventually substituted and replaced by Kyle Walker, a right-back, as the game petered out and went to penalties.
England won, perhaps sparing a few blushes, but they could have had the result sewn up a lot earlier had Rose not been shackled by his side’s tactics.