Why England will be feared at Euro 2020
‘Home’ advantage, goals galore and a settled formation raise team’s hopes, writes Jason Burt
The Wembley factor
Now we know for certain that England will kick off their Euro 2020 campaign on Sunday, June 14 at Wembley. If they are to win the competition, five of their seven games will be there.
The Football Association wants to play down the fact it is effectively a “home” tournament (for fear of harming their chances of landing a future one soon) but Gareth Southgate will accentuate the benefits, having been part of England’s team in Euro 96 and knowing what effect that can have.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity: three group games at home,” the England manager said. “We want to make Wembley somewhere that teams fear coming to.”
A goal-hungry attack
England have scored 33 goals in seven qualification ties – more than any other European nation. Group A is an admittedly weak group but Southgate stressed the psychological effect it can have on England’s rivals if his team are winning by such big margins.
“I used to look at Germany in qualification and they were racking up sixes and sevens and we used to be struggling to break down teams who played with a low block [defend deep],” he explained. “We’ve now managed to play in a way that’s been able to solve that problem. Now we’ve got to solve the different sorts of problems that come with the higher-ranked opponents, and that’s the challenge of the next few months.”
Southgate is right to add the caveat of England’s effectiveness against elite opponents. There is a huge difference between smashing six past Bulgaria and seven past Montenegro, when there is little “jeopardy”, and being in a group with France or Belgium.
Southgate, therefore, needs to choose England’s opponents in their four friendlies – two in March, two before the Euros – wisely. It would be no surprise if they go for a big South American team such as Brazil or Argentina.
At last – a settled formation
Southgate has been looking to play 4-3-3 ever since the World Cup but recently admitted that he might have to revert to three at the back because England cannot get enough midfield control. However, he seems to have gone with his instincts – to try to get the best out of England’s impressive attacking talent – and talked up Marcus Rashford’s return to form, before adding: “So, in those wide areas with Callum [Hudson-odoi], as well, with Jadon [Sancho], we can see the potential in him and with Raheem [Sterling], that’s why we’ve gone to a 4-3-3 because the quality of our wingers and the depth of that coming through, and the depth of No8s coming through, suits that way of playing, really.”
Unfortunately for Jack Grealish, Southgate appears to regard him as an attacking wide player, and so he faces stiff competition. Harry Kane will be the main central striker, with Tammy Abraham a more than able deputy.
A better midfield blend
A key decision appears to have been to go with Harry Winks as the single midfield “pivot”. It means Southgate has turned away from the idea of using a midfielder who used to be a defender – such as Declan Rice or Eric Dier – for one who is more creative.
“Harry’s finding himself out of Tottenham’s team, so that’s an interesting challenge as well, but I couldn’t be happier with what he’s done in Bulgaria and again [against Montenegro],” Southgate said.
Jordan Henderson is an automatic choice as one of the No 8s, ahead of Winks, which leaves Alex Oxlade-chamberlain, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount and James Maddison vying for the other slot. There is another option: Trent Alexander-arnold, who was moved from right-back to right midfield in the second half against Montenegro. “I wanted to see him in there as well,” Southgate said.
Youth, experience, ‘grit’
Half of the squad are 22 or under, extremely young for international football, but Southgate has highlighted the importance of two older players: Henderson and Fabian Delph, both 29.
Delph is injured but seems destined to be in the Euro 2020 squad. “In any team, you can’t have 10 Raheems and Jadons and Rashfords without having the glue to piece that team together and without having the right people to win the ball back and the leadership and the drive that teams need,” Southgate said. “You can’t just have a load of nice footballers. There’s got to be a grit to the team and that’s a part of the game we’ve still to improve upon.”
Southgate also needs to settle on a central-defensive combination, which appears to be Harry Maguire plus John Stones, Joe Gomez, Fikayo Tomori or Tyrone Mings.
‘Bolter’ Foden
Will there be a “bolter”, a late addition to the squad – something that appears to happen before every tournament? Southgate was invited to talk up the prospects of Grealish but took a different tack. “You know, we’re still looking at [Phil] Foden and thinking that it’s a case of when, rather than if. Obviously, guys that have been with us before, like Dele [Alli], as well.” But what an incentive for 19-year-old Foden ... if he can get games at Manchester City.