Glorious English negativity is once more surrounding the national team and it’s hard to say it’s not warranted. Lacklustre, lifeless and bereft of ideas; far from the inspirational start designed to get flags waving out of windows and beers flying in celebration – with dreams building towards a historic summer.
Ironically, it’s those same beers that are now being used as ammunition thrown in the direction of manager Gareth Southgate. Perhaps formed from years of pent-up frustration, near misses and criticism over an over-cautious mentality, the loaded snipers are now being fired at just the wrong time for the England manager. He knows as much as anyone the impacts of a negative team environment, and the happy holiday feel he had created in the England camp is at risk of collapsing.
5 points, 2 goals and a lot of backward passing was the theme of the group stage campaign. With the warning sirens sounding after the 1-0 friendly loss to Iceland a week before the tournament, the worry was evident. Any fears seemed to have been alleviated 30 minutes into the Serbia game though, as the side led 1-0 and looked re-energized. Jude Bellingham was commanding the game, barrelling through his opponents like the centre stage was his. Bukayo Saka was back to his best, taunting and teasing a weak Serbian left flank and the intricate passing sequences we were asking for appeared to be in place.
But that was as good as it got. All too familiarly, Southgate’s men sat back on their lead, inviting pressure and showing little intent to attack. They scraped through 1-0 victors but it was far from convincing.
What followed was worse. Surrendering a lead courtesy of Kane’s scrappy finish to draw 1-1 with the Danes, England were nothing short of atrocious. Sloppy on the ball, no press or enthusiasm and a total absence of energy. The final whistle brought the English players to their knees, apparently exhausted but it was unclear why.
The reset button was pressed by Southgate but it looked more like a repeat against 57th ranked Slovenia. 0-0. If that was a reset then it’s time to rip up the script.
Most worryingly for England fans is the lack of threat. An abundance of riches including the Premier League’s player of the season, the Bundesliga’s player of the season and the La Liga’s player of the season look like nobodies. No identity, no idea and more like a Sunday League team than a major tournament winning team.
They must shake off the habit of dropping to defend in the hope that one goal will prove enough, a response seemingly so integrated into their minds it’s now natural. This team is far better than that. Southgate must learn, and quickly, how to get the most out of the jewels at his exposure and how best to fit them all in, working out who he must leave out to benefit the team.
The imbalance is staggering, and can surely only be due to poor coaching. With Luke Shaw unfit and Foden starting at left-wing, there is no naturally left-sided player in the team. No left back, no left winger – not even a left-sided centre half or midfield player. A team on the wonk, using only 70% of their attacking field look disillusioned and far from the lethal machine they are on paper.
What’s left is a bundle in the middle of the park. Trippier, by no fault of his own, is right footed and tends to turn play inwards. Foden drifts aimlessly towards the central number 10 spot where he wants to, and arguably should be playing. The issue is that Bellingham is already there. Kane loves to wander deep and get involved so he’s also there. Saka cutting in from the right finds himself in the same area and when Rice or anyone else fancy a surge forward they also join the party.
That leaves heaps of white shirts to bump into one-another. Not helped when you play defensive teams loading the middle of the pitch with the full knowledge England can only break through the centre. The best players, of whom we have in plentiful supply, operate best in pockets of space where their ability can shine. That’s where they can find a vision, shimmy left or right to flummox a defender and combine with a teammate to break the lines. The best players in the world haven’t become bad footballers overnight. England’s attackers just don’t have the freedom or the room to be themselves..
This must be fixed. Southgate also has to ponder who to add to midfield after his first two experiments failed and whether Trippier is adequate at left back, with Luke Shaw a huge risk after 4 months out.
Perhaps leaving Foden out for a true left-sided attacker in Anthony Gordon is the way forward. It would be a bold decision, unpopular with some, but Southgate’s not fighting a popularity contest. He’s there to win games and that is something his team are finding increasingly difficult.
That said, he must get the fans and the media back onside, to create a shared optimism and sense of hope. Just as he did in Russia in 2018 and the last Euros, he must encapsulate the nation and lead them along a path, a journey towards the end goal. It’s likely to be his last tournament in post but negativity and doubt is no good at this stage. Enthusiasm and support is. Southgate and England should reunite and understand that.
And there’s plenty of reasons to still believe. Despite the abject and largely boring showings to this point, England remain unbeaten and topped their group.
Marc Guehi has been a shining light in an improved defence, admittedly against weak opponents. But that’s progress and as Southgate has repeatedly mentioned, a strong backbone of defence is vital in tournament success.
The quality of the group must also be remembered and frankly they are too good to continue in this fashion. A few tweaks and a bit of form and their fortunes may just turn around. Flashes of promise have been there and there’s nothing stopping them from clicking as we’ve seen with so many major sides before. If their roles can become established and clearly defined, with the best combination found and a few more minutes for the likes of Gordon and Cole Palmer, there may be joy yet.
It’s been a similar story for the other favourites. Unlike England, France failed to top their group and also produced a series of underwhelming performances. Portugal lost to Georgia, Belgium scraped through and the Dutch were lucky to survive as a third placed side in a largely flawed tournament structure.
Hosts Germany may have impressed – so have Spain – but it’s rare a storming start is maintained for a whole month and the early attractors emerge victorious.
So England have hope. Southgate has worked his magic again with the draw and his side will avoid the big hitters until the final, should they make it. Slovakia (world number 45) make very generous last-16 opponents and a quarter final against a diminishing Italy or Switzerland isn’t overly daunting.
A bit of luck here and there, a few changes and a sudden click into gear and the summer of dreams may not be over just yet. Disappointing so far but no-one remembers the group stage anyway.
Who knows but football may just be boarding an ever-delayed flight home in the not too distant future.
Callum’s Sporting Blog 
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