After England’s nerve-racking victory over Slovakia, we gleaned five things from that pulsating Last 16 game.
1. England Sloppy on And Off the Ball
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Aside from the first half against Serbia, there have been periods throughout England’s four games when they have not been able to control possession of the ball.
Misplaced passes, overhit diagonals, you name it.
Part of that may be due to Gareth Southgate trying to figure out what his best XI is, but with the amount of technical players England have in their squad, you would expect better.
It may also be the pressure of being the favourite. Sometimes, when you are a favourite to win the tournaments, the pressure can really get to you, which means that your anxiety levels affect the way you perform on the pitch.
If England is to win this tournament, they must improve both on and off the ball.
2. Subs?
Southgate often gets criticized for his use of substitutions, and yesterday’s game was another example.
Kieran Trippier clearly does not look at all comfortable as a left-back.
He is right-footed, so why play him in that position?
Cole Palmer replaced Trippier in the 66th minute, and Saka, who is naturally left-footed, looked far more comfortable in that position.
3. Saka at Left Back
The Arsenal winger started his career as a left-back before switching to a Winger.
If Luke Shaw isn’t 100% fit, it may not be a bad idea to start Saka at left-back and have Gordon or Palmer on the right.
You cannot have a right-footed player on the left; it does not work.
Southgate must either pray for Shaw to be fit, play Gordon or Palmer, or stick Saka at Left Back to provide more balance on the team.
The team looks unbalanced, particularly on the left, and Southgate needs to address this as quickly as possible if England is going to go deep into this tournament.
3. Guehi Lucky To Survive
Another thing the team needs to watch out for is their discipline. Marc Guehi received a yellow card, which will now keep him out of the quarter-final against Switzerland.
Ezri Konsa is likely to be the man to replace him, but it looked as if he and John Stones were putting on a decent partnership at the back.
Konsa looked pretty solid when he replaced the Crystal Palace defender, but can he step it up in the quarter-final?
4. Bellingham Brilliance
The Real Madrid superstar is playing on a different planet from anyone else in that England team, and his bicycle kick to get England back in the game was just sublime.
Right now, it feels like he is carrying the whole nation on his shoulders, as it’s either Bellingham or Bust.
Both he and Harry Kane are level on two goals and four assists for the team, and they seem to be the ones who get England out of trouble in an attacking sense.
But if England is going to win this tournament, they need the Fodens, Rices, Sakas, etc., firing as quickly as possible, and this can only be done if Southgate’s set-up and tactics are cohesive and get the best out of them.
Aside from 1966, one reason the England men’s team has failed to collect any silverware is that they are too reliant on individuals such as Paul Gascoigne and Wayne Rooney to step up and deliver when it matters.
Southgate must set the team up in a way that gets the best out of England’s front five, as one individual cannot win a tournament on his own unless you’re Diego Maradona or Lionel Messi.
Thus, Southgate must devise a system that maximizes England’s attacking talent while providing a solid defensive structure.
Kobbie Mainoo must start here for the remainder of England’s campaign, as his calmness on and off the ball enables Bellingham and Declan Rice to play higher up on the pitch and get involved with England’s attacking play.
