More than getting his selection right, Gareth Southgate would do well to act upon the advice of Raheem Sterling, the scorer of England’s only goal in the opening group matches.
England have been constrained not by the opposition but by the straightjacket they have wrapped around themselves. Southgate’s priority for the final group match against the Czech Republic is to reset the team’s attitude and approach, to re-inflate a few egos and to inject some personality into the piece.
Though Gary Neville hailed Southgate as England’s most important performer after the narrow opening victory against Croatia, the manager was arguably the most significant impediment against the Scots with an unnecessarily narrow view of the landscape. The risk-averse set-up was not only out of step with the public mood, it sent the wrong message to a group who appeared frightened of making a mistake.
Whilst pragmatic thrift has a role in extremis, it is wholly inappropriate in the group stage of tournament structure that is largely without jeopardy for the major nations. Moreover, once ingrained, timidity and inhibition are hard to shift.
Thus has the Czech fixture become more about Southgate than his players. Can he regain the impetus, the sense of optimism and anticipation commensurate with a young squad borne of a domestic league that sent three teams to the finals of Europe’s premier club competitions? If not now when are England ever going to reflect the power and style of our clubs and play like we mean it?
The Harry question
Maguire, not Kane. Having publicly announced the inclusion of his skipper to end any speculation about Kane’s place in the team after a disappointing start, Southgate will almost certainly re-instate his best centre-back at the expense of Tyrone Mings.
The Villa stopper has not put a foot wrong. However, England have missed Maguire’s all-round game, his distributive skills and the authority he exudes. If Mings is about stopping stuff, Maguire is about initiating from the back. His inclusion sets the right tone.
Creative hub
What worked against Croatia failed against Scotland, namely the pairing of Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice. Deployed higher up the pitch as he was against Croatia, Phillips avoids the duplication we saw against Scotland. He and Rice are instinctively similar, minded to sit deep to shield the back four. It amounted to over compensation against Scotland, allowing Billy Gilmour the time and space to set the tempo.
The solution is to sit Phillips for Jordan Henderson or Jude Bellingham in order to connect better the midfield with the attack. Henderson’s reading of the game and distribution, not to mention his experience, has been missed.
Free the full-backs
Henderson’s inclusion would also give the full-backs licence to get forward. To that end we might expect the return of Kieran Trippier down the right. Reece James was a victim of Southgate’s caution, weighed down by instruction and preoccupied by defensive duties.
Trippier’s greater experience makes him better equipped to balance the manager’s plan and instinct. Game management is the term for it. Full-back/wing-back has become central to the scoring function of modern teams. From Dani Alves and Jordi Alba at Barcelona to Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool, success was built on their service into the box. Kane’s dire return thus far is a good deal due to the scarcity of crosses into his scoring arc.
The Foden conundrum
More the Stockport Ineffective than Iniesta thus far. Pep Guardiola gets a lick out Foden in wide positions because of the control Manchester City exert in matches and the width created by overlapping full-backs.
Foden is a classic No 10. His best position is presently taken by Mason Mount. Unless Southgate is prepared to rotate them or relocate Mount, Foden might have to be sacrificed for pace out wide, a position also known as winger.
If Southgate’s resistance to Jack Grealish is troubling, the omission of Jadon Sancho is equally baffling. Sancho for Foden down the right would give the team better shape and balance. Foden’s instinct is to come inside. Sancho is comfortable hugging the lines.
Forza Inglaterra
Bold, attacking football is the new pragmatism. If Italy can ditch catenaccio for all-out endeavour, so can Southgate. It works, too. Just look at the stats: 30 games unbeaten, three out of three here, seven goals for, none against. Fun is the way forward. Forza Inglaterra, Gareth. You know it makes sense.
More from i on Euro 2020
- What the Premier League could learn from Euro 2020’s controversy-free referees
- The football nomad who became a hero for his role in saving Eriksen’s life
- How Ronaldo’s Coca-Cola stunt could change the face of football sponsorship
- In praise of Emma Hayes, the best pundit at Euro 2020 so far
- How to watch every Euro 2020 match on TV and online in the UK
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3cWTtT0
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