Tony Cascarino has claimed that one Manchester City player has never been more important for England than he is currently.
The English trio of John Stones, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden have all travelled to Germany to partake at Euro 2024 but their importance to the side cannot be considered equal.
Walker, who Gary Neville believes can play for any team in the world at club or international level has been crucial for the Three Lions for years.
Foden has perhaps grown in terms of how key he is to England but he still has to cement his status as a starter in the team — despite being one of the best players in world football.
Stones, however, is potentially heading into the European Championship with his legacy in an England shirt at stake.
Tony Cascarino makes fresh claim about John Stones for England
The £50 million man has been excellent for Gareth Southgate’s side in the past and at international level, he has a case for being his country’s best defender in the past few years.
Alongside Harry Maguire, the Manchester City centre-back has formed one of the best centre-back pairings in the business on the international stage.
But with Maguire being ruled out of the tournament, England need Stones to deliver more than ever, according to Tony Cascarino.
On talkSPORT (15/06/2024, 7:23 am), he said: “I mean, if you go through his career where he was a brilliant young player, sometimes made really bad errors because technically, he wants to get on the ball and play, he is very good on the ball and he sort of had that transition and then he went to City, and as it has gone on, he has got better and better and he has been more versatile as a player, hasn’t he?”
“And he is at a stage now where England need him the most they have ever needed, more than ever. Absolutely. It is important that he has a big tournament for England because John [Stones] is the most capable of the centre-halves, I feel.”
John Stones has the experience to rise to the occasion
It is difficult to disagree with Tony Cascarino as Stones is England’s leading centre-back at Euro 2024, playing next to 23-year-old Marc Guehi.
As a result, it seems likely that the finger will pointed first at the six-time Premier League winner if the Three Lions falter at the back in Germany.
But having played in the most high-stakes games possible for both club and country, Stones will be familiar with the feeling of pressure and expectations from millions.
With that in mind, the 30-year-old’s presence, both as a world-class centre-back and a leader should not be questioned; as he has been there and done that time and again throughout his career.