Yet for some reason, the one time Harry Kane didn't square the ball to Sterling still gets brought up four years later...
I’d say Southgate’s system is the biggest cause for lack of chances to Kane and our forwards. Our quality lies in attacking midfield and forwards but the formation overloads with poor or average defensive players. If I were in Southgate’s shoes today - and throughout the tournament - I’d play a 4231 in which I can fit in about 5 forward thinking players able to cause numerous problems. Forgetting injuries for a second as I know one or two will miss today’s game, this is a side I’d like to see in general: Pickford Tripps, Stones, whoever, Shaw Rice, Mount Foden, Maddison, Grealish Kane Chances galore for Kane with those three behind him, and you can bring on the likes of Bellingham, Saka, Wilson and Sterling with little to no drop in quality too. But we all know it gonna be a dreary back five, catered to lesser quality defensive players and sucking the creativity out of the side.
The premise is simple. If you are that kind of player, then you have to be scoring. In this case, if you are taking chances off Kane, or are forcing him into play where he is providing assists. Of the two of them, who do you back to score most from every opportunity they could be presented with ??
Right now, yes. I think Bellingham has a considerably higher ceiling and will definitely be a better player but as of this moment I'd say Mount is ahead in quality, especially for England, I don't think we've seen Bellingham massively excel for England like he has for Dortmund. But having said that, I like Bellingham, Saka, Sterling and Wilson enough to not disagree if they got selected in the XI as all are very good players. Problem is we won't even see at least one of the players I'd like to see start, as the formation removes any one of the three supporting players to Kane... and in their place will be a bang average defender.
I have recall of matches at every world cup since 1974. In fact I have some recall of England losing to Germany in 1970 but I was 5 at the time so it's quite a sketchy memory probably enhanced by footage seen since. So this is the10th World Cup finals that I have been able to watch England play at and I think that in that time we have played 45 matches of which we have won only 19 (+1 on pens), and I think in terms of really good performances they would be in single figures and quite often in matches we didn't actually win like Holland and Germany at Italia 90. On that basis I will cut Southgate some slack, because under Greenwood, Robson, Hoddle, Eriksen, Capello,and Hodgson we have been generally distinctly ordinary often with equally good if not better players. So let's get behind the manager and the team. Come On England
It has balance and doesn't look too defensive. How many goals it has in it...is open to doubt...but fingers crossed.
Ohhhh what a team goal that was! Great play from Bellingham, lovely cross from Harry and good finish from Sterling.
3-0, it’s come to life And Kane hasn’t even scored Some first half redemption for Maguire and Sterling
Amazing what happens when Southgate lets us attack. Complete domination so far. Bellingham running the show at 19. So much for me saying he’s yet to bring his Dortmund form for England, lol.
Good half, kept the ball well, very limited opposition, not actually created that much but clinical finishing and a great start.
