'Poor': Tony Cascarino thinks £50m Chelsea player really struggled in latest World Cup display
Tony Cascarino thinks Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling was one of the England players that really struggled against the United States yesterday at the World Cup.
For England, they had to settle with just a point after a 0-0 draw with the U.S.
Sterling started again for the Three Lions on the left of a front three, which was a predictable selection after he scored in the opening group stage match against Iran. In fact, it was a completely unchanged XI from the 6-2 Iran victory.
However, the £50million Chelsea winger was substituted off midway through the second-half by Gareth Southgate last night.
The 27-year-old attacker had an off-day where he was fairly quiet in a creative sense, something which is quite rare when he represents his country.
England’s forward line as a unit never really clicked into top gear, so it felt like more of a collective disappointment rather than an individual howler.
Sterling struggled against United States
Cascarino thinks winger Sterling and Bukayo Saka found it difficult during this weekend’s World Cup match.
“The two wide boys were poor. Sterling one side and Saka… Wingers need the ball early,” Cascarino told talkSPORT.
It’s going to be interesting to see if the aforementioned duo both start in Tuesday’s game against Wales.
The likes of Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden are surely pushing hard for a promotion into the starting line-up.
Sterling’s form has been a bit up and down this season, so the fact he’s not yet at his very sharpest isn’t a major surprise.
The national media were critical of the wide man’s performance against the United States.
For Sterling, he’s got too much experience and quality to let his head drop after his substitution off the pitch.
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