Gareth Southgate stubbornly clings to a failing strategy, and shifts are mandatory for England’s deep run in Euro 2024.
England typically underperforms in their second bouts at major tournaments.
In Euro 2020, Scotland clutched a stalemate against England at Wembley. At the World Cup 2022, a similar scenario unfolded with the USA, finishing 1-1.
Come Euro 2024 in Frankfurt, Denmark mirrored this trend. Harry Kane’s early goal was nullified by Morten Hjolmund’s dazzling distant strike.
This outing was a long time coming, with Southgate bearing significant blame.
Entering Euro 2024 as frontrunners, England’s initial displays hardly justified such confidence.
Ultimately, England was possibly lucky to snatch a draw. After intermission, Denmark chalked up more expected goals, seemingly closer to scoring, yet they didn’t fully test Jordan Pickford.
The draw kept England on top of Group C, but squandered their chance to confirm an early last 16 spot as group leaders.
With four points, progression seems likely, but the final group standings remain uncertain, giving Southgate much to ponder.
Under his watch, England has squandered leads in 13 matches, dropping five.
How might Southgate pivot?
The Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield venture must cease.
This epitomizes Southgate’s misjudgments. Despite his prowess, Alexander-Arnold floundered in midfield, not his natural full-back role. His 54-minute stint confirmed this mismatch.
Although he created chances and maintained high accuracy, his presence unbalanced the field.
To address this, Southgate introduced Conor Gallagher. His energy is undeniable, yet doesn’t address positional disharmony. Jude Bellingham’s deep retrieves and Phil Foden’s wide roles further complicated dynamics, leaving the crucial ’10 spot’ often vacant.
Maximizing Kane
A reversion from the 4-2-3-1 formation could leverage both Bellingham in the number 10 role and provide greater opportunities for Kane.
Despite minimal chances, Kane, who had an impressive season at Bayern Munich, showcased his sharpness with scarce opportunities, but found limited engagements inside Denmark’s box.
Southgate opted for Ollie Watkins as Kane’s substitute, but pairing them could have been intriguing.
With five Euro goals, Kane stands as a pivotal figure. Removing him at a crucial match juncture seems an odd choice. Jarrod Bowen and Eberechi Eze, despite their efforts, lacked impact. Meanwhile, Anthony Gordon remained seated, along with Cole Palmer and notable absences like Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford.
Bowen and Eze, combined, managed just 22 touches; they created no opportunities nor attempted any shots.
If Foden is to start, his role must be central.
Operating on the flank limits his effectiveness, contradicting his potent central play. With Kieran Trippier on the left, Foden’s isolation on the wing was palpable.
Yet, during Thursday’s match, Foden led in attempts, his best efforts narrowly missing, hinting at his potency from central areas.
But his wide role offered little. Meanwhile, Denmark executed their defensive scheme effectively, stifling Foden’s influence.
There’s room for improvement, but current tactics fail to harness Foden’s capabilities.
Amid these challenges, Southgate must rethink his strategies to truly leverage this squad’s potential. His tenure has seen success, but his current approach might not be suitable for this array of talents.
