Lee Carlsey’s maiden England squad certainly sprung a few surprises, particularly the leftfield selection of current Lille midfielder Angel Gomes.
The former Manchester United prodigy was picked after a stellar 2023/24 campaign, while it should be noted that Gomes also worked with Carsley at youth level.
Users of the latest 1xbit promo codes would have got lengthy odds on Gomes being selected for the Three Lions, but there’s no doubting his immense talent and technical ability.
But will Gomes start for England in September, and what qualities will he bring to the Three Lions team?
How and Where Does Gomes Play?
Gomes’ natural talent and versatility counted against him at Old Trafford, as did his slight frame and lack of physicality (Gomes is just 1. 68 metres tall). Typically, he likes to play as an attacking midfielder behind the forwards, where he can deploy his outstanding dribbling ability and eye for goal.
He has also played deeper on occasions, where his vision, football intelligence and ability to read the game intuitively have drawn comparisons with players such as Paul Scholes.
However, Gomes has occasionally struggled in a deeper role, where his lack of size and aggression would often count against him.
During his first season in France, Lille coach Paulo Fonseca largely deployed Gomes from left flank, while also utilising him as a mobile false nine. However, the 2023/24 campaign saw Gomes dropped into a central midfield position, where he’s encouraged to recover the ball high and dictate play.
What do the Stats Tell Us About Gomes?
Gomes excelled for the Lille side last year, making 31 Ligue 1 appearances and 45 overall. Although he failed to score in the French top flight (he struck two goals in all competitions), he produced the joint-most Ligue 1 assists (eight).
He also recovered 125 balls and completed 1,566 of his 1,751 attempted passes (89.4%). This is even more impressive given that he made 204 progressive passes (the sixth highest tally in the league), highlighting his ability to move the ball forward and initiate attacks.
Gomes also averaged 3.75 shot-creating actions per 90 minutes for Lille, while completing 62.9% of his take-ons. So, he was also adept at dribbling past opponents, which is a rare quality that’s highly coveted in international football.
These stats are highly impressive, with Gomes impressing both with and without the ball last season. So, he’ll add balance and technical ability to England’s midfield, and Carsley may deploy him a little deeper to aid ball retention and help progress play.
Regardless, England fans can rely on Gomes to provide composure and no little skill when he pulls on the white shirt. They can also look forward to watching a superb entertainer who has an eye for the spectacular, whenever and wherever he starts!