Cesc Fabregas believes something has stopped one Manchester City player from being one of the best in football in history in his position.
England defeated Serbia 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen, and it was far from a comfortable victory.
Jude Bellingham gave England the lead after 13 minutes, and it was a very bright start from Gareth Southgate’s side.
But after around 20 minutes the level dropped, and in the second-half Serbia improved considerably.
England ran out 1-0 winners and the result is the most important thing.
But there is plenty for Southgate to ponder ahead of the next game with Denmark on Thursday.
Kyle Walker had a decent first outing at right-back and is in with a good chance of starting again against the Danes. He had one really exciting moment in the first-half when he raced through after a Bukayo Saka pass, but the chance came to nothing.
For Cesc Fabregas, Walker lacks composure in the crucial moment.
Cesc Fabregas says Kyle Walker could be one of the best right-backs in football history with better composure
Walker enjoyed a pretty decent first outing against Serbia.
His role was rather interesting. He often tucked inside to make up a back three, but then at times, he did maraud forward.
At one point, Serbia turned the ball over in midfield and it broke to Saka on the right. Quick as a flash, Walker made a blistering run on the overlap and Saka found the 34-year-old.
Walker was then bearing down on goal and got right into the box, before sending his low ball across in front of Harry Kane and Phil Foden.
Walker – who Gary Neville believes would still play for any team in the world – might have shot, but the final ball was poor and Fabregas was critical of him at half-time. He suggested that his lack of composure prevents him from being considered among the best full-backs the game has seen.
He said during the BBC’s coverage of the game: “If in his career he could have had this little bit of composure in front of goal in the last final moments, I think we could be talking about one of the best full-backs in the history of football.”
Fabregas has a point
Walker should have done better when he raced through in the first-half against Serbia and Fabregas may well have a point.
£50 million signing Walker can often do great work getting into really dangerous positions, but sometimes the final ball is lacking. We don’t see him getting forward as much these days for City, and perhaps there is an acceptance that Walker’s final ball leaves a lot to be desired.
Having said that, Walker still has fairly decent assist numbers, having supplied 52 at club level in his career to date.
Walker, for many, is up there among the best full-backs ever. But seemingly, Fabregas doesn’t quite rate him that highly due to his end product.