Why did Southgate abandon his system?
Because he wanted to rest the players who make that style work. His system of pressing, with Raheem, Dele and Jesse behind Harry Kane, has worked in the last four games. By changing the personnel, he abandoned the system. He must have known we would stutter and lose if he did that.
So he wanted to lose and play Colombia?
Obviously. Southgate is well aware that England’s record in World Cup knock-out games is very bad.
Why did we look like a 442 Graham Taylor England team?
Because Vardy and Rashford are two selfish centre-forwards who should never play together. Dier is not a presser and never will be. And he’d not played for four weeks. Delph is a versatile squad player, not a starter.
Why did England have no automatic?
Because we played two up top. Because Kane gives shape to those behind him. Jamie Vardy is an excellent striker in another format. Marcus Rashford might score a goal for us next year. The reserves did him no favours, so he looked raw. We only had one clear chance in 66 minutes when Rashford had that one-on-one with the experienced Thibaut Courtois. The kid had two options (1) go round him on the left and slot or (2) pass to the unmarked Jamie Vardy. But he decided to aim to the keeper’s left and Courtois got a touch and the ball went past the post. Still a very immature footballer.
Did Belgium deserve to win?
Obviously! They outplayed us all night long and their B-team had far more ideas and fluency than ours. And their A-team is much more talented than ours too. No surprise to hear Roberto Martinez say, “Delighted with the manner that we won it.”
Gary Neville said “England were very poor in central midfield.”
Gary was being polite. We were pitiful all over the pitch, not just in central mid. Hoddle said it: “Belgium were a far better team on the night.”
VERDICT :
Southgate has built a system that got us to Russia and beat Tunisia and Panama. His system dominates zones because Kane chases and well as poaches, as the great Ian Rush did when he played with Kenny Dalglish.
Raheem, Lingard and Dele make runs forward within the width of the penalty area and shoot and score and win corners and free-kicks. Then we convert enough of those set-pieces.
We have a team but we don’t have a squad. And we are clueless about how to navigate a match where we don’t have to win. On the Januzaj goal in 51 minutes, Rose and Delph might look at themselves and weep. Or maybe they were fall guys who had been told to pretend and lose?
Any good news?
The World Cup starts tomorrow! While 32 teams is tedious, 16 soon gets exciting. We play Colombia on Tuesday and I’m hoping Loftus-Cheek can get a goal or an assist soon.