Southgate bemoans fine margins as England enter the knockout stage

SAMI MOKBEL: Gareth Southgate bemoans fine margins as England enter the Euro 2020 knockout stage with just two goals to their name in three games… the team need more invention in the final third

  • Gareth Southgate has acknowledged that England need to improve in attack
  • England have scored just two goals – with Raheem Sterling getting both 
  • The Three Lions have been the slowest at building attacks at Euro 2020
  • Harry Maguire’s return is key – his pass led to Harry Kane’s first shot on target
  • Kane needs to find his shooting boots – but more chances must also be created
  • Find out the latest Euro 2020 news including fixtures, live action and results here

Perhaps they are simply timing their run but England, albeit through to the last 16 of the Euros, are yet to catch light.

Manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged as much after Tuesday’s win over the Czech Republic. 

‘There is more to come from us. We are not fluent but we have moments where we look a good side,’ he said.

Gareth Southgate has faith in England’s capacity to improve as the tournament progresses

Raheem Sterling has been the Three Lions’ only goalscorer so far after the first three games

There’s more than one way to skin a cat, of course. Who knows, maybe England can grind their way to glory. 

But the stuttering nature of England’s attack is a growing cause for concern as we head into the business end of the tournament.

Just two goals from their opening three games — both from Raheem Sterling — is an issue.

Southgate may point to the fact his team have struck the woodwork in all three games, and he’d have a point.

If those had gone in, England’s tournament might have taken on an altogether more positive complexion. But it would paper over the cracks of England’s difficulty in creating chances.

‘What we have done well is manage the games and see the games out and look really solid,’ said Southgate. 

‘In doing that we have to find different ways to win. It’s a strange one because, of course, we have so many good attacking players.

‘There were moments against the Czech Republic when I thought it was a bit more cohesive and it’s important that we get the ball into the attacking players a bit quicker at times.’

Southgate hasn’t sugar-coated it; he knows it’s a problem that needs solving.

Harry Maguire’s ability on the ball will be key as more difficult opponents come England’s way

Yet it’s hard to argue too much. Ultimately it is job done. England booked their last-16 place at a canter as group winners. But the pedestrian nature of some of England’s build-up play has left a lot to be desired.

Those concerns have been underlined in a study by Opta, who have identified England as the team with the slowest attacking build-up of any nation in the tournament.

The return to fitness of Harry Maguire will help. But to win the tournament, England will need to show more invention in the final third. 

Kane, rather unfairly, is shouldering the blame but he’s had one decent chance throughout the entire tournament — the opportunity Maguire set up for him on Tuesday. It’s providing the chances for Kane that is the real problem.

All that said, England appear to have struck the right balance in defence. Three clean sheets from three games is encouraging. 

Maguire’s availability should solidify those defensive foundations, though Tyrone Mings deserves huge credit for his performances.

Harry Kane needs to find his shooting boots having had just one effort on target at Euro 2020

Yet then came the sequence of events that resulted in Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell having to complete a 10-day quarantine period, causing them to miss the win over the Czech Republic and probably Tuesday’s last-16 tie, too. Such is life at a major tournament.

The best teams adapt — but are Southgate’s England brave enough to do that?




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