Gareth Southgate’s triple substitution was his boldest move yet but now he faces even bigger question

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy It was the first time Gareth Southgate had been England’s unlikely axeman by culling three attacking talents for about three weeks. open image in gallery Gareth Southgate talks to Harry Kane after removing the England captain There is a logic to sparing their legs. open image in gallery Kane tries to influence England from the bench after being subbed off Because the most infamous England substitutions have come with everything on the line: Sir Alf Ramsey’s decision to take off Bobby Charlton in the 1970 World Cup, Ron Greenwood’s to put a semi-fit Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking on 12 years later, Graham Taylor removing Gary Lineker in his final international and bringing on Alan Smith, or even Southgate using Rashford as a specialist penalty taker in the Euro 2020 final. But if the newer wingers he promoted to the squad were signs he could take off Foden and Saka at times, the sight of Kane trudging off prompted the question if England’s struggles will make Southgate abandon a key tenet of his blueprint: to never go without his captain.