Modric and Rakitic in 2018, Verratti, Locatelli and Barella in 2021 and Fabian, Rodri, Olmo and Zubimendi in 2024. What is the common thread between those three midfields? They have all dominated the ball and England’s midfield when it matters the most. England’s lack of a midfield maestro to counteract this and calm the game down when it’s at its quickest will continue to haunt them.
History of England’s Midfield
It has been a question asked of England fans ever since the retirement of Paul Scholes: why can’t England produce a midfield metronome? In 2014-16, Jack Wilshere was thought to be the man, being able to make incisive passes as well as get into the box and also hit a long-range strike as well. He was awarded man of the match in the Euro 2016 qualifying matches 6 out of 7 games, however, numerous injuries caught short of what could have been the answer to England’s problems.
2018 World Cup: Making do with what we have
In the 2018 World Cup, the answer wasn’t there regarding midfield options. The likes of Fabian Delph, Eric Dier and Jordan Henderson were midfield options more comfortable out of possession than in possession, whilst the inexperienced Ruben Loftus Cheek, as well as the flying Dele Alli, were more prominent higher up the pitch.
Gareth Southgate used the options he was given at the tournament, using Dele Alli and Jesse Lingard in a 3-5-2 formation to focus on stifling opposition midfielders. Southgate could have taken Harry Winks, someone who I thought plays in the mould of maestros that we often see in the international game; however, injuries and a lack of consistency made him unlikely for England recall.
2020 Euros – A big opportunity missed
The game against Italy signified the pressing need for this type of midfielder in big games. midfielders who can control a game can tire out the opposing midfield by passing them to death, as well as provide some added calmness when the opposition is starting to have chances. In 2018 after Kieran Trippier’s early goal, England were hurried in possession, often sitting deep and not being able to capitalise when they got the ball back.
One of the biggest pet peeves I have with midfielders is when progressive passes are on, but they either aren’t capable of playing the pass or simply choose to ignore it. The likes of Alli and Lingard weren’t able to receive the ball in attacking positions between the lines, with Henderson choosing to pass it into the channels instead.
The composure of Croatia’s midfield 3 allowed them to patiently break down England’s solid defence, and in extra time see the game out after Mario Mandzukic’s winner. In 2018 we accepted that England didn’t have a player like Modric or Rakitic in their ranks, but in 2021 it became even more evident.
England’s Missed Opportunity Against Italy
England could have easily won that game against Italy. Again another early goal. Again England said back and soaked up the pressure instead of dominating the game. The midfield of Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice had more potential to control the game than the midfield of 3 years prior, however, the lack of a controller in the midfield told. While Phillips was able to do this job for Leeds in the Championship and in the Premier League, his role as a box-to-box all-action midfielder in the Euros (in which he played very well) meant all the pressure came onto Declan Rice.
I think Declan Rice is a fantastic ball-winning midfielder, being able to claim balls, which not many other midfielders can do; however, similar to the way Mikel Arteta uses Jorginho or occasionally Thomas Partey, he needs a controller alongside him who can play incisive between the lines passes that Rice is sometimes hesitant to do. In that final, Mason Mount’s position higher up the pitch, trying to receive those passes cost England dearly. England couldn’t progress the ball or get it into Mount or Harry Kane, allowing Italy’s midfield to dominate.
Marco Verratti showed his world-class talent again that night. His ability to evade the press, knowing when to release the ball and when to take a chance, drove Italy to win the game. I felt Rice was let out to dry in that game, and again proved England’s need for a person to control the game for them.
The Now – England vs Spain
This final again proved the importance of this type of profile. A player like James Maddison, a ball-dominant player who roams the pitch looking for the ball, could have provided the control and incisiveness Dani Olmo provided for Spain.
Whilst Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are fantastic players, again, like Mason Mount, they are primarily players who look for the pockets to receive the ball into, as opposed to helping progress the ball themselves. I love Kobbie Mainoo, but the guile of Fabian Ruiz and Rodri was too much for him in the final.
Mainoo is more of a carrier of the ball than a progressive passer. Adam Wharton could have potentially been the foil for England once Mainoo went off, allowing them to control the ball after Cole Palmer’s equaliser. Spain’s possession stats had climbed as high as 80 per cent midway through the first half. It finished up at 65 per cent.
England’s inability to keep the ball for sustained periods caused them to drop deeper and deeper and then not feel confident when they broke on Spain. I’m not saying England has to play like Spain, but in big games, a player of this profile, even an attacking midfielder higher up like Martin Odeegard or Christian Eriksen, would have been vital. Someone who could have progressed the ball made the right decisions and made the opposing midfield tired and disheartened.
Conclusion
“We didn’t keep the same pressure, we didn’t keep the ball well enough,” Kane said when asked why England couldn’t build on Cole Palmer’s equaliser. They have some fantastic young players coming through at the top of the pitch who can technically match teams such as Spain and Germany. However, the midfield problem will forever haunt Gareth Southgate and England. Perhaps Adam Wharton will become the next Michael Carrick.
Maybe Kobbie Mainoo can add the “la pausa” to his game to enable him to control games more. Declan Rice can become more confident in processing the ball, as we have seen at times from him. Maybe Bellingham and Foden can become more complete attacking midfielders, willing to drop deep at times to help progress the play and receive the ball in the final 3rd.
Who knows. But for now, England again will have a big chance to break their major tournament losing streak of 58 years.
