Misfiring Ox fails to solve issue
Midfielder’s inability to create chances from central role highlights England’s perennial problem of turning possession into goals By James Olley
TWO different systems, two encouraging performances but one central problem remains. There were sufficient flashes of promise from last week’s experimental line-up against G ermany and thi s more orthodox victory over Lithuania to give Gareth Southgate optimi sm but improvements are required before next summer’s World Cup.
The perfunctory nature of both matches makes it difficult to determine progress. Germany barely raised their intensity above a testimonial while, here at Wembley, England faced a familiar task to break down inferior opponents hell-bent on securing a draw.
However, in both matches, England had more of the ball than their opponents and once again their use of it was called into question. They laboured for long periods against Lithuania, raising familiar concerns over England’s ability to affect the game in possession.
It has been a habitual tournament failing. There was a clear trend during Roy Hodgson’s four years in charge for England to garner greater possession in matches.
At Euro 2012, England averaged 39 per cent of the ball. Four years on in France, England had 59 per cent possession — only Germany (63) and Spain (61) had more, yet Hodgson’s team lacked cohesion in attack, climaxing with abject paralysis in the defeat by Iceland.
Southgate is steeped in the FA’s way of thinking, the ‘England DNA’ missive launched in December 2014 which states: “England teams aim to intelligently dominate possession selecting the right moments to progress the play and penetrate the opponent.”
England continue to lack a metronome giving rhythm to their play, leading to the staccato performances such as this one that have become standard fare in qualification mismatches.
Southgate attempted to tackle the problem by injecting greater dynamism into central midfield by turning to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Standard Sport first reported in October that England were experimenting with Oxlade-Chamberlain in a central role during a number of training sessions, since when he has enjoyed an extended run in the position for Arsenal.
Ye sterday, the 2 3-year- old was handed an opportunity alongside Eric Dier but his errant use of the ball was symptomatic of England’s inability to create chances.
Jermain Defoe marked his return to international football after more than three years away by giving England a 21st-minute lead before substitute Jamie Vardy added a second as England took another step towards securing qualification.
All England’s faults should not be laid at his feet, of course, but that role requires not just the penetrative runs from deep which see Oxlade-Chamberlain at his best but also the quick, recycling of possession to ensure opponents needing to find defensive shape are not given time to regroup.
Southgate went with Oxlade-Chamberlain over Jake Livermore for that reason and although England deserve credit for seeing the game out, the manner of this victory left plenty of questions to ponder after switching from a 3-4-2-1 shape back to a 4-2-3-1.
“We felt that yesterday’s formation gave us an additional attacking player and we also changed the profile of our