Gareth Southgate becomes the first England manager in 30 years to start THREE overseas-based players – after Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Jordan Henderson lined up against Ukraine

Gareth Southgate’s team selection in Wroclaw on Saturday evening made him the first England manager since Graham Taylor 30 years ago to start with three overseas-based players.

England drew 1-1 with Ukraine in their Euro 2024 qualifier, with defenders Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kyle Walker scoring for their respective nations. 

England dominated possession but lacked creativity, and it was a moment of brilliance from captain Harry Kane that unlocked the Ukranian defence.

Kane dropped deep to the half way line before raking a through ball to the onrushing Walker, who showed great composure to net his first goal for England. 

Gareth Southgate became the first England manager in 30 years to pick three overseas players

England’s draw ends their winning run in Euro 2024 qualifiers in a group containing Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta. 

Southgate lined up with Kane (Bayern Munich), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid) and Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq) against Ukraine. 

The England boss replicated Taylor’s team for a World Cup qualifier against Norway in June 1993 when Serie A was the dominant force in Europe and the Premier League was only 12 months old.

Taylor’s Italian-based trio of Des Walker (Sampdoria), David Platt (Juventus) and Paul Gascoigne (Lazio) didn’t bring the manager much luck though – England were beaten 2-0 in Oslo and failed to qualify for the following year’s finals in America.

Since then, a few isolated Three Lions have played abroad – David Beckham, Steve McManaman and Jadon Sancho among them – but they’ve not made up such a sizeable contingent in the England team, until now.

Jude Bellingham has taken La Liga by storm since his transfer to Real Madrid, scoring five goals