It is fair to say that England national team's performance at the World Cup went way beyond what most of the public expected of them before the tournament began.
A first semi final for our men's senior side in twenty eight years, coming so close to a first final since 1966 (if you didn't know, we won it that year), capped off a tournament that can only be reflected on positively.
Now the dust has begun to settle after a small heartbreak and a defeat in the third place play off, I thought now was an opportune time to reflect on what we have learned about this side, the manager and the wider implications this will have for the future of English football.
The 'England DNA' bearing fruit
Over the past two years I have made videos to highlight the impact of the England DNA on our national teams. It was becoming more and more evident that there is a visible difference in the way that England teams approach tournaments and more broadly, the way they play the game.
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| England's senior women side have also made great strides |
This tournament could be identified as an important acid test to understand whether the new approach could truly take England beyond what we have come to expect. At previous tournaments expectations have been built up and crushed with dull, drab and sometimes disastrous performances. Eight years ago we were given a serious reality check when a young Germany side swept us aside when we had been one of the pre-tournament favourites (Capello's self-destruction in that six month period is possibly a blog for another time).
This tournament was different though. Gareth Southgate had slowly phased out some of the higher profile (Rooney, Hart - even Cahill consigned to being just a squad member) and not like Steve McClaren did with David Beckham only to go crawling back to him in a time of desperate need.
We attacked the tournament with a youthful side, full of character and energy. We try to play games on the front foot even if we did fall short against some of the better teams and individuals we found ourselves against. But it wasn't half refreshing to see an England team perform above expectations and more importantly, like a TEAM. It is not that lack ago that we had world class footballers who for whatever reason (there are many) they just could not function effectively together.
Staying on trend
As is stated in the England DNA: "England teams will play with tactical flexibility, based on the profile of the players available and the requirements of the match or competition". Southgate made his intentions to play with three central defenders clear as soon as qualification finished. It was later revealed he and Steve Holland (assistant) decided this was to be the way forward for the team at the World Cup having been to watch the Confederations Cup.
Playing with three central defenders is becoming a more common theme in modern football again so while this was hardly an act of genius by the coaching team, it was necessary when it would have been easy to stick to the tried and trusted four at the back. Not only did having an extra central defender help us to look more solid out of possession, it also improved our build up play out from the goalkeeper, something we have struggled with in the past. Having a central player with the quality and bravery of John Stones on the ball obviously helps, but this was a wise move.
This ability to recognise the current trends and use it to our advantage I think showed a flexibility that we had not seen from an England senior team before. We have often lagged far behind when these trends move on, as they tend to do but this time we were largely on the right side of this.
What was also interesting was our shape in midfield, making it a 1-3-5-2. Again Southgate made clear the intentions pre-tournament to play with a single holding midfielder with two more attack-minded midfielders outside of that player. In fact after the first friendly against Nigeria, Southgate described those outside midfielders and the two forwards as a 'front four'. This was a brave move, but it suited our players and we saw our team attack with pace and freedom.
It is easy to say this in hindsight but I do wonder whether there was ever a back up plan of a 1-3-4-3, with two defensive midfielders and supporting forwards for a lone striker. Against Croatia in particular when we lost the control and momentum in the game I do feel we could have brought Dier on alongside Henderson (before he was forced off with injury later on of course) to give us more security.
This would also have given us more balance defensively and potentially more options in the transition from defence to attack, as we ended up conceding possession quite easily. More flexibility in game could have been required as per the DNA. However, I would argue this is me being picky and that fact we can have these discussions about a World Cup semi final performance is still a huge positive.
This would also have given us more balance defensively and potentially more options in the transition from defence to attack, as we ended up conceding possession quite easily. More flexibility in game could have been required as per the DNA. However, I would argue this is me being picky and that fact we can have these discussions about a World Cup semi final performance is still a huge positive.
Meticulous Southgate
“We had talked long and hard about owning the process of a shootout."
Watching England win a penalty shoot out was an incredible moment I will treasure for a long time! In the aftermath, what seemed a miracle quickly became clear that it was very much a victory for appropriate planning! From practising in training to the water bottle with writing on it handed to Jordan Pickford, this was an example of the level of detail that went into this tournament by Gareth Southgate and the England staff.
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| Will we continue to see the waistcoat? |
During the tournament, I read an article about how players were now fist-bumping instead of doing hand-shakes to help prevent illness!
I enjoyed this analysis of the Harry Maguire goal against Sweden, in the quarter finals. Much has been made of the Alan Russell's influence on set pieces already and the praise is fair. In a tournament where set pieces were key to team's successes England were able to take advantage of this.
Previously England have relied on high quality players to swing the ball in and we have hoped for the best. David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard etc all had wonderful delivery but often we didn't take advantage of this. In this tournament, nothing was left to chance. Arguably though, we became too reliant on set pieces!
I enjoyed this analysis of the Harry Maguire goal against Sweden, in the quarter finals. Much has been made of the Alan Russell's influence on set pieces already and the praise is fair. In a tournament where set pieces were key to team's successes England were able to take advantage of this.
Previously England have relied on high quality players to swing the ball in and we have hoped for the best. David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard etc all had wonderful delivery but often we didn't take advantage of this. In this tournament, nothing was left to chance. Arguably though, we became too reliant on set pieces!
Restoring a relationship
I have already alluded to the general low expectations of the fans and media but something that had also set in over the past few years was apathy.
I was there for Southgate's first game in charge of England. A pretty drab 2-0 win over Malta, goals from Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli in the first half. It was a pretty painful watch (Wayne Rooney being outrun by a Malta midfielder was a particular low point) - but what was most clear was a lack of atmosphere and enthusiasm amongst the crowd.
What will now be most interesting is how the fans treat the upcoming fixtures. The first game since the World Cup is a UEFA Nations League tie against Spain and this will be the first opportunity for England fans to show their support and excitement after a positive tournament. It can inspire people across the country.
We have players not only now with experience at the top level now but also characters that fans can seemingly embrace and relate to. We have a team from a wide range of backgrounds and it has been great to see Southgate embrace this and point to the strength that a diverse England team can bring. This article by Musa Okwonga gives a great perspective on the benefits England's performance can bring away from the pitch.
Southgate the man to take England forward?
Pre-tournament, Martin Glenn claimed that even if we struggled in the group stages of the World Cup that Gareth Southgate's job was safe. Fact is, had we failed to get out of the group he would surely have resigned, or been under pressure to anyway.
We did not struggle though, winning the first two group games for certainly the first time in my lifetime and having the opportunity to rest players in the third game.
Southgate was given a four year contract, seeing him past Euro 2020 which is now unimaginable that he will not lead us into that tournament, in which seven of the games are at Wembley. The "it's coming home" bandwagon is most certainly less than two years away.
Whether it is through the UEFA nations league or qualifying, expectations will be a lot higher to deliver qualification in style. We bored our way to qualification for the most part for this World Cup, playing two defensive midfielders (Jake Livermore one of those) in a 1-4-2-3-1 and squeezing our way past smaller opposition. With a rising interest in the national team that won't be taken as lightly as it was previously, when expectations were lower.
However, I think there is an intrigue into how the manager can take us forward having made great strides in such a short amount of time. He certainly deserves that chance at least.
The Future is Bright - if there is opportunity
There is certainly reason to be optimistic when you know that Pickford, Stones, Trippier, Alli, Lingard, Sterling, Kane, Loftus-Cheek, Rashford have all got several tournaments left in them. The slightly older players at this tournament are probably the ones which were identified as areas we needed strengthening in.
Jordan Henderson performed admirably but where is the playmaker who can control games and take us to the next level coming from?
Ashley Young played beyond my expectations but we really lacked a balance on the left side (no outfield left footed players in the first eleven).
Kyle Walker did extremely well in an unusual position for him but we still require another defender with the quality of John Stones to push us forwards.
Fortunately, we have an unprecedented level of talent coming through the system. The English academy system is producing some of the best talent in Europe, maybe the world.
Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Ryan Sessegnon, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trevor Chalobah, Rhian Brewster and Jonathan Panzo just to name a few. There are more, many more but the key issue now is the next stage of their development once they come through their respective academies.
Players have to be given the opportunity to develop, the higher the level the better. Hence why we have seen players begin to leave England early seeking opportunities, mainly in the Bundesliga. The German clubs are recognising the level of player English teams are producing.
Hopefully, the English clubs will begin to realise this too!
I'd be very interested to know your thoughts on what is required for England to take the next steps and be a force to be reckoned with consistently!
Pre-tournament, Martin Glenn claimed that even if we struggled in the group stages of the World Cup that Gareth Southgate's job was safe. Fact is, had we failed to get out of the group he would surely have resigned, or been under pressure to anyway.
We did not struggle though, winning the first two group games for certainly the first time in my lifetime and having the opportunity to rest players in the third game.
Southgate was given a four year contract, seeing him past Euro 2020 which is now unimaginable that he will not lead us into that tournament, in which seven of the games are at Wembley. The "it's coming home" bandwagon is most certainly less than two years away.
Whether it is through the UEFA nations league or qualifying, expectations will be a lot higher to deliver qualification in style. We bored our way to qualification for the most part for this World Cup, playing two defensive midfielders (Jake Livermore one of those) in a 1-4-2-3-1 and squeezing our way past smaller opposition. With a rising interest in the national team that won't be taken as lightly as it was previously, when expectations were lower.
However, I think there is an intrigue into how the manager can take us forward having made great strides in such a short amount of time. He certainly deserves that chance at least.
The Future is Bright - if there is opportunity
There is certainly reason to be optimistic when you know that Pickford, Stones, Trippier, Alli, Lingard, Sterling, Kane, Loftus-Cheek, Rashford have all got several tournaments left in them. The slightly older players at this tournament are probably the ones which were identified as areas we needed strengthening in.
Jordan Henderson performed admirably but where is the playmaker who can control games and take us to the next level coming from?
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| Our young players have excelled in youth international tournaments in the past two years |
Kyle Walker did extremely well in an unusual position for him but we still require another defender with the quality of John Stones to push us forwards.
Fortunately, we have an unprecedented level of talent coming through the system. The English academy system is producing some of the best talent in Europe, maybe the world.
Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Ryan Sessegnon, Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Trevor Chalobah, Rhian Brewster and Jonathan Panzo just to name a few. There are more, many more but the key issue now is the next stage of their development once they come through their respective academies.
Players have to be given the opportunity to develop, the higher the level the better. Hence why we have seen players begin to leave England early seeking opportunities, mainly in the Bundesliga. The German clubs are recognising the level of player English teams are producing.
Hopefully, the English clubs will begin to realise this too!
I'd be very interested to know your thoughts on what is required for England to take the next steps and be a force to be reckoned with consistently!
