VAR SPOILS VARDY PARTY
Video ref denies Three Lions
ENGLAND were denied victory at Wembley last night after the Video Assistant Referee awarded Italy a late penalty.
Jamie Vardy had put England on course for a second victory in five days following a 1-0 win over Holland on Friday. But VAR deemed that Burnley defender James Tarkowski, who had been so impressive on his debut up until that point, had brought down Federico Chiesa.
Replays showed Tarkowski had trodden on Chiesa’s foot as he, Ashley Young and Adam Lallana converged on the Italian and Lorenzo Insigne made no mistake from the spot against goalkeeper Jack Butland with just two minutes left to play.
NOW THAT was what you call a proper test.
And did Gareth Southgate’s much-vaunted three-man defence pass their examination? The jury on that must still be out.
Like Holland in Amsterdam last week, Italy arrived at Wembley as another team who would be missing out on this summer’s festival of football in Russia. But Luigi Di Biagio’s team came with a very different attitude altogether. They were determined and aggressive – and gave England’s threesome a tough time.
Last night was the fifth game in a row that Southgate has used his three-man central defence with wing-backs. It was also the fifth different combination of players the England manager had used.
On the face of it a successful ploy. Before last night this new defensive shape had led to five consecutive clean sheets. Recent displays, including the 1-0 win against Holland, had seemed to show that England were growing into the system – even if it meant Kyle Walker switching to an unfamiliar central role.
That was, admittedly against the worst Holland team in a generation. Last night it was James Tarkowski who got his chance in the three after his impressive performances for Burnley this season. The significant fact about Tarkowski is that he is a ball-playing defender.
The one constant in the last five games in that three-man defence has been Manchester City’s John Stones. Despite the inconsistency at club level that has seen him lose his place under Pep Guardiola, Southgate clearly believes totally in a player who has not started a club game in two months.
Southgate in the week building up to these games, called Stones “not the normal English centre-back”. And in fairness, the player has generally justified that faith.
Stones, to put it mildly, had a nervous start last night, letting the lively Ciro Immobile in behind him but recovering well, but then carelessly losing the ball on the edge of the area. He got away with it when the Lazio player shot high.
One of the keys to the system is a goalkeeper who is also comfortable on the ball. Jordan Pickford proved that – to an extent – on Friday. Last night it was Jack Butland’s turn, but the Stoke man looked less sure of himself.
Immobile could have had three goals in the first 16 minutes – the striker once again somehow slipping between Stones and Walker but then heading over.
Gradually England settled as Jamie Vardy scored, and Stones got over his bout of the wobbles. Tarkowski, though, looked nervous, easily skinned by Immobile in one darting run. Again, England got away with it.
A tough test was probably what this system needed. But there are still worries. Ashley Young was not even booked for carving Davide Zappacosta virtually in half. In a tournament that might have been a red card.
The magnificent three largely stood firm again until the disappointment of that late penalty. But doubts still remain...doubts that the big boys may well exploit when the main event gets under way in Russia.