England have two problems. The opponents who are technically better than them - in World football there are about 8-10 of these and the well organised team who set out to frustrate them. Lithuania weren't good enough to keep us out, but the problem is when we play a side that is a little better than them as we did when we drew 0-0 to Slovakia in the Euros.
As we are likely to face this challenge in the early stages of a World cup competition, it would surely make sense to work out how to play against it. Yesterday's game whilst being comfortable was also frustrating in places. Is there a different formation that is effective against these sorts of sides, different players or styles (more direct for instance). I think it is criminal an England manager not identifying this issue from the past and using games like this to work out a plan.
Yes, we will qulaify comfortably- We did for the Euros, but how are we going to address the issues we face in major tournaments? Southgate is destined to be a failure, unless he is very fortunate! I can tell him one thing - he has too many players in the side who are not natural scorers. The two goals came from players who are and one replaced the other. I would class Alli as the only other one. We need more of them in the side.
I'd say they were the main teams better than us technically.
Then I'd say there are teams like Sweden, Turkey, Poland who would give us a good match and are more than capable of beating us on their day. Then there are teams who can play for a draw, like you mention Slovakia or Russia.
England have two problems. The opponents who are technically better than them - in World football there are about 8-10 of these and the well organised team who set out to frustrate them. Lithuania weren't good enough to keep us out, but the problem is when we play a side that is a little better than them as we did when we drew 0-0 to Slovakia in the Euros.
As we are likely to face this challenge in the early stages of a World cup competition, it would surely make sense to work out how to play against it. Yesterday's game whilst being comfortable was also frustrating in places. Is there a different formation that is effective against these sorts of sides, different players or styles (more direct for instance). I think it is criminal an England manager not identifying this issue from the past and using games like this to work out a plan.
Yes, we will qulaify comfortably- We did for the Euros, but how are we going to address the issues we face in major tournaments? Southgate is destined to be a failure, unless he is very fortunate! I can tell him one thing - he has too many players in the side who are not natural scorers. The two goals came from players who are and one replaced the other. I would class Alli as the only other one. We need more of them in the side.
I'd say they were the main teams better than us technically.
Then I'd say there are teams like Sweden, Turkey, Poland who would give us a good match and are more than capable of beating us on their day. Then there are teams who can play for a draw, like you mention Slovakia or Russia.
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Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Netherlands, Belgium, Croatia, Portugal, (Uruguay? Colombia?).
I'd say they were the main teams better than us technically.
Then I'd say there are teams like Sweden, Turkey, Poland who would give us a good match and are more than capable of beating us on their day. Then there are teams who can play for a draw, like you mention Slovakia or Russia.