Chelsea will be the crux of England for many years to come

Although only a friendly against Ireland, England’s latest match proved how important Chelsea is for the country’s present and will be for the future.

A fixture forged by fierce animosity, a personal rivalry that is reluctant to let go, nations so close that are worlds apart. Yet, England’s game against the Republic of Ireland really was the friendliest of friendlies. If Wembley had been packed to the rafters with both sets of supporters rattling and riling one another; if the reward was more than personal pride; if it wasn’t an unwelcome break away from the increasingly demanding domestic scene, it might have been a spectacle.

Nevertheless, Gareth Southgate’s side dismissed any Irish luck with ease, scoring three without reply as they geared up for their Nations League clash with Belgium on Sunday. As simple as the outcome eventually turned out to be, it shed welcomed light on the importance Chelsea has on the Three Lions pack.

Reece James began the evening at wing-back, a role he has adapted to admirably in such a short period. Unfortunately, he won’t feature in either of England’s next two matches due to his suspension picked up after the Denmark clash last month. Southgate is blessed in the right back department to say the least.

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However, with Trent Alexander-Arnold out injured and James’ absence, he is now shorter in personnel than expected. Kieran Trippier is likely to come in on the weekend, with Kyle Walker retreating to centerback, leaving Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the bench. Decent replacements they may be, but none quite compare to the individual attributes of the Chelsea youngster. His delivery is superb, his energy and confidence equally as impressive. All of this whilst his defense repertoire is also improving rapidly.

On the opposite flank, the England manager has a shallower pool of players to pick from. Bukayo Saka started at left wing-back and wasn’t uncomfortable, but wasn’t entirely inspiring either. The Arsenal star’s productivity is achieved in an attacking sense, his future involvement likely to be further afield. Sitting on the bench was England’s first-choice left back, Ben Chilwell. The Chelsea star’s presence was sorely missed in the previous encounter with Belgium, but he will no doubt be immediately reinstated.

Chilwell is the only natural left-sided defender in the current set-up. His addition brings balance rather than the lopsided look England succumbs to when deploying Trippier as an inverted fullback. Like James, Chilwell can cross and distribute set pieces with aplomb, scavenging up and down the line with youthful exuberance. Not truly since Ashley Cole has England been blessed with a definitive left back; now thanks to the Blues, the Three Lions have another.

Leicester fans may argue the case that Chilwell was bred as a cub of the Foxes, not Chelsea. There can be no disagreement that Mason Mount was moulded within the walls of Stamford Bridge and is now the King within Southgate’s chess set. For all the social media mischief about favoritism over the fantastic 21-year-old, his international manager has moved his other rooks and pawns to the wings to accommodate Mount’s ability in the middle.

One of those being Jack Grealish, who openly admitted he was tired of the comparisons of himself and his national compatriot. To further exasperate the internets furrowed brow, Southgate lined Mount and Grealish up together. They functioned as a graceful, intelligent, hard-working duo that thrived in the face of weaker opponents.

It has similarities to the Frank Lampard/Steven Gerrard conundrum. Two fantastic individuals who are vying for the same spot and neither can be left out. Whilst Gerrard often felt he had to do everything on his own with Liverpool—as Grealish has with Aston Villa—Lampard worked for the collective. Like Mount, who leaves an inhabitance to strike a balance between selfishness and selflessness. Mount is becoming undroppable because of this skill, like Lampard before him, and is well on his way to surpassing his club bosses’ cap tally of 106.

Tammy Abraham is the final piece of the Chelsea-England puzzle. The striker made a fleeting 30-minute cameo in place of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, another forward in the line for Harry Kane’s throne. With Danny Ings and Marcus Rashford out injured, Abraham has leaped up the queue and has every right to be asking the question of England’s captain. He has scored four goals in six starts for Chelsea, a testament to his determination in the wake of all the Blues’ newest recruits, and the kind of form that forces you into a tournament squad. The main concern is that Abraham showed these exact early striking exploits last season but petered out between January and July. Staying fit and continuously scoring will be the priority; achieve this, and his place is in no doubt.

Who is the Chelsea player you’re most excited to see develop in Southgate’s England squad? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!