ENGLAND’S

superior quality in front of goal saw them over the line but in the first half Switzerland gave them a lesson in how to dominate possession with this system. Both teams set up with three at the back and a midfield trio but while England played two strikers, the Swiss had one up top with Xherdan Shaqiri off the front. When Switzerland won the ball, Shaqiri would drop deep to give them an extra man in midfield. It meant that England’s midfielders were often outnumbered, they did not know when or where to press and the visitors had 60.9 per cent of the ball before half-time. England rectified the issue after the break with Marcus Rashford coming deeper more often to help get his team on the ball. It was a good learning curve for Gareth Southgate’s side. If England are to persist with two up front, one of the forwards needs to be prepared to drop deep.