England Set Sail in Volgograd
- Jun 20, 2018
- 4 min read
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the team donning red on the field in Volgograd was a Pep Guardiola side at times during yesterday’s opening game in Group G. Slick, quick tempoed passing was something manager Gareth Southgate had spoken of trying to emulate in the months preceding the tournament, and the side delivered in large parts of this contest.
England's youthful verve and incredible pace has been on the rise in age group tournaments where the English have been experiencing unprecedented success - the England 'DNA' was implemented by the Football Association in December 2014 after a disastrous exit from the last tournament in Brazil which saw England sit rock bottom of their group (including minnows Costa Rica).
Roy Hodgson failed in France and was dismissed from his position and Southgate now offers a seamless transition from the under-20 and under-21 sides into the first team; we have seen this path in players like Marcus Rashford, Nick Pope, Jordan Pickford, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Dom Solanke and Harry Maguire coming through and making their bows for the national side. Although the feeling pre-tournament around England was one contrary to what the English have said in past years by overhyping and piling pressure on the side, the spotlight still shines on the English squad brighter than nearly any other nation.
Southgate opted for his now characteristic 5-3-2 in the opening game, a formation we have seen in recent friendlies and in the final few games in qualifying. Kyle Walker occupying the right centre back role and Everton Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford between the sticks marked a young but adventurous backline - Ashley Young being the outlier at left wing back, at 33 years old. Leicester’s Harry Maguire and former Everton man John Stones completed a trio of ball adept centre halves and Tottenham fullback Kieran Trippier made his berth at right wing back, providing quality delivery throughout the affair. Jordan Henderson was preferred over the more conservative Eric Dier in midfield and Dele Alli played slightly deeper than usual alongside the Liverpool man. Jesse Lingard played slightly advanced with relative freedom in the role behind both Sterling and Kane. There is a case to be made for either Vardy or Rashford to play in Sterling’s role as the City man has a tendency to lack a degree of clinicalness in finishing the other two can show.
England were geared for going forward and Southgate included the trident of Jesse Lingard, Dele Alli and Raheem Sterling in behind Harry Kane, helping form a quick, elusive midfield and forward line filled with trickery and guile. Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson sat in behind them occupying the area in front of the back four, doing an excellent job in the first half, setting the tone for events in front of him. The Three Lion's drive to get forward was ever increasing in qualifying and it was a huge part of deciphering Southgate's vision for the side.
England opened the match looking to move the ball with positive intent, accuracy and at a tempo last seasons Manchester City would be satisfied with. It was evident in the opening stages the importance of the wing-backs in this system, too. Ashley Young and Kieran Trippier operated on the left and right flanks respectively and got forward at every opportunity; providing much needed width and delivery from wide areas.
England went close from minute one when Jesse Lingard nearly turned in an effort from a scuffle and ball across the six yard box from Dele Alli and but for a good save, would have gifted the three lions an early lead. The development which saw that chance come to fruition was indicative of England’s bright start. Swiftly taking the ball from the back four, Jordan Henderson fired a ball in behind the defense at the first time of asking with decisiveness rarely seen from an English midfielder of late. Dele Alli made his way in behind an on to the end of the ball and delivered into the box where forward Sterling couldn’t quite finish it off. England were switched on.
Just 11 minutes in, Ashley Young delivered from a corner and City’s John Stones leaped above the Tunisian defending party, dispatching a driven header toward the top corner - Tunisian Goalkeeper Mouez Hassen kept it out brilliantly but could only generate enough power to palm it in to the path of England Captain Harry Kane who finished at close quarters; Southgates men look headed for a whitewash before a hopeless ball in the box made its way to the back post. 10 minutes before the break after a string of English chances, Kyle Walker’s outstretched arm tore down Tunisian forward Ben Youssef who was anticipating a ball in from the right hand side - the referee, not looking to VAR, awarded a penalty which was swiftly converted. The sides were level.
England huffed and puffed and looked to be rueing several golden chances as they struggled to make the decisive touch and regain a lead. The spoils appeared to be shared until Harry Kane turned in a late Maguire flick on to gift England a huge three points. In the end, the victory will temper the hype put on the side from England press and fans alike - if the side had finished their chances they would be running away piling immense pressure on the side, the scoreline will buy the English some time.
With Tunisia next, England will be looking at the Belgium game to really make a statement of intent. There are many positives about this set up and side, but at the end of the day England must prove they have changed from the depths of the last two major tournaments - and that will come with time.
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