England star Marc Guehi idolised John Terry after Chelsea upbringing and is tipped to return from Euros to bigger things
MARC GUEHI’S assured start to life in the spotlight of a major tournament should not come as a shock.
The Crystal Palace star put in a fine display against Serbia to dispel concerns over whether he could hack it alongside John Stones.
But those who have been watching his rise from the Chelsea academy, via Swansea, Selhurst Park and the England Under-21s have seen it all before.
It is why staff at Palace were so confident during the season that, come June, they would have a starting England defender in their ranks.
The class and composure was there when Palace’s sporting director, Dougie Freedman, first spotted the defender playing in Chelsea‘s famed academy.
It stems from someone who, from the age of five when he joined up with Cray Wanderers, has been dedicated to defending.
Guehi was never the most talented boy at Cray, or even Chelsea, but understood his role in incredible detail and, even as a young child, never got caught up chasing the ball further down the pitch but stay focused on keeping a clean sheet. That has never changed.
One Palace source told SunSport: “He just wants to defend, he absolutely loves it.”
There were worries that, being four inches shorter than the man he has replaced in Harry Maguire, Guehi’s stature would be a problem.
However, given a robust test by towering and powerful Serbian forwards, the former Swansea man passed with flying colours.
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His reading of the game has stood out to every coach who has worked with Guehi or scout who has watched him.
The 23-year-old, who was born in the Ivory Coast before moving to England at one and idolised John Terry as a kid, still works endlessly on studying positioning and reading the game and it shows in his performances.
Guehi, who is best mates with Three Lions team-mate Conor Gallagher, is rarely flustered or caught out and it was notable he finished the game in Gelsenkirchen with few marks on his white England shorts – always a sign of an assured defender.
It is that calm presence which has seen Guehi rise quickly as a young player, overcoming struggles during his loan on Swansea which saw him dropped from the squad altogether.
His quiet but determined attitude is what convinced Under-21s boss Lee Carsley – followed by Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson at Palace – to hand him the captain’s armband.
Carsley said earlier this season: “The way he conducts himself on and off the pitch, he is a brilliant influence on the players.
“He is very good on the ball, excellent in possession.
“He deserved to be captain. We didn’t have him that long, he moved through the system quite quickly which is brilliant.
“Seeing him play week in, week out he deserves it.
“He deserves everything he gets because he is a brilliant lad and works so hard.”
Guehi is a considered leader in the changing room, not brash and loud but quiet and controlled.
He keeps his head on the pitch and chooses his words carefully off it – meaning team-mates pay attention when he has something to say.
It has been a remarkable rise, and those watching on from Palace – who included proud chairman Steve Parish inside the stadium in Germany – will feel this is just the start.
There is an acceptance in South London that they may well lose Guehi to bigger and better things once he returns from Euro 2024.
That has often been the club’s plan, recruit well and sell after a solid three years.
If that plan is to be put into action this summer – the asking price will have just climbed up once again.
How England rated vs Serbia... as Bellingham shines but TWO big names get 5s
JUDE BELLINGHAM was England’s head boy as Gareth Southgate’s side made a winning start in Germany.
The Real Madrid superstar oozed class throughout and broke the deadlock with only 13 minutes played thanks to an excellent header, dispatching Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross.
But, despite the brilliant start, it was a nervy affair here in Gelsenkirchen.
Serbia exerted significant pressure in the second half, with a few narrow escapes for Southgate’s men.
Harry Kane barely had a kick and the Premier League’s player of the year Phil Foden struggled to have any influence on the left of the Three Lions’ front three.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated England’s stars… with TWO stars getting just a 5.