I'm a Southgate supporter, but it is a pressure game for sure. We've had a poor 6 months at international level. He has to resolve a few issues for this game.
Firstly we're looking brittle in defence, CB options are out of form backups have limited international experience, but he might have to go with them.
Second CM, we have poor options in this role, full stop. He has to find a solution and a balance, that allows us to start to dictate possession again, and be tight out of possession.
Up top, the wide players are not delivering, we have good options, but again none of them are experienced international player except for Sterling. At CF no one has put pressure on Kane for his role, we need that pressure. e need someone to come on as a sub and play an absolute blinder.
There has been a lot of guff said about this being a great england squad during the last 2 years, it isn't. It has clear gaps, and a lack of experience, there is individual ability, but that doesn't always translate to a good player or a good team at this level.
We're playing Germany lets just compare man for man against the team that beat Germany away 5-1.
Seaman or Pope --- Seaman by a country mile
Neville or James --- even, Neville more solid, James better going forward
Ashley Cole or Saka -- Ashley Cole by a mile, one of our best fullbacks ever
Ferdinand or Walker -- Ferdinand, one of the best 4 CBs of his era, can't say that about Walker
Campbell or Maguire -- Campbell by a mile
Gerrard or Rice -- clearly Gerrard
Scholes or Bellingham -- Bellingham is clearly talented, but he hasn't reached the peak Scholes level of ability yet, so it's clearly scholes
Beckham or Foden -- Beckham delivers
Barmby or Sterling -- Sterling
Kane or Heskey -- Kane
diff formations but that gives us Dier or Michael Owen....and it's obv Owen. But if that 5-1 team played 3 CBs I'd take Southgate over Dier.
In other words, I'd take 9 of the 5-1 team, and add Sterling and Kane. That's how much better the squad was back then and how limited it is today.