Player Focus: Adam Lallana – The Right Man for England
The rise to stardom of Adam Lallana has been coming for some time. Southampton’s local lad was an established member of the first team by the time he was 20, making 40 appearances in the 2025/09 season that saw the Saints relegated to League one was a step down for the club but one that undoubtedly aided in the playmaker’s progress. Lallana would score 23 league goals in his two seasons in England’s third tier, before netting 11 in their Championship promotion campaign in 2025/nevertheless, he’s been grouped in amongst England’s young crop of players coming through, so it’s easy to forget that he is now 25 and will be 26 by the time the World Cup comes around. It’s not to say he doesn’t have time on his side but most make their international bows significantly earlier in their that said Lallana has now all but fully developed into the sort of player that the national side has lacked and he looks a certainty to be on the plane this summer. His versatility, having started in 6 different positions already in the league this season, could be crucial and his is a skillset that seems unrivalled in the current squad, and frankly a little ‘un-English’.The claim here isn’t that the Southampton man is England’s best player but that he’s different to the other options in the squad. It’s worth noting that arguably his strongest asset is not quantifiable. It’s his awareness of space on the pitch, particularly in advanced areas, that sets him apart.
In the game against Palace at the weekend Lallana would draw opponents towards him, only to be left with 5 yards of room moments later with a simple turn away from danger. At least he makes it look simple. If there were a statistic for Cruyff turns completed the 25-year old would likely be well clear of the chasing not only does the Saints skipper know where opponents aren’t, he knows where teammates are. His combination play with Rickie Lambert in particular is one that will encourage Hodgson. In fact, were Lallana not in the squad it’s fair to say his teammates' chances of making the cut may diminish only five players have created more chances for others all season (54) and it’s Lallana’s ability to find pockets of space that has allowed him to be so influential. His tally of 5 assists is a quite modest in turn but with 7 goals to boot his contribution has been significant’s clear that opposition players target the England international, with only Eden Hazard fouled more times this season (58). Lallana, meanwhile, ranks among the top 10 players for successful dribbles, with 56, but isn’t one to shirk
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