Southgate cannot repeat his Colombia errors
Southgate cannot repeat Colombia errors
Substitutions only put his team on the back foot
GARETH Southgate made his first mistakes of this World Cup tournament against Colombia.
England did brilliantly to get through and Gareth has handled everything very well so far but his substitutions in normal time were negative and put his team on the back foot.
England can’t afford for that to happen again in this tournament and — if they do it against Sweden — it will play right into their hands.
I hate to be critical of Gareth and I hope he sees this as being constructive; he should have brought on Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Marcus Rashford for Raheem Sterling and Dele Alli.
The decision to bring on Eric Dier shifted momentum and the attacking threat, while I don’t believe Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane work as a two, especially when Kane is forced to drop deeper.
Colombia sensed the change and absence of danger so took the initiative.
It gave them the impetus to get the late goal and start extra time the better side.
Some may argue England haven’t got the depth in personnel but I believe Rashford (right) and Loftus-Cheek still give a good offensive threat with their willingness to run at defences and make them turn. They would have kept Colombia stretched.
I understand injury and fatigue had a part to play in some of the changes but, if England revert to that shape again, it falls straight into the arms of a grateful Sweden.
Vardy can be a real pest with his pace. He would be better served in the wide channel should he come on again as playing him further up negates the effectiveness of Kane.
Any team that wins the World Cup or progresses has a worldclass striker. England have one who is growing with confidence in every game, putting chances away, on course for the Golden Boot and maturing as a leader.
The way he has taken his penalties, I’m not sure what he does, whether he waits for the keeper to move, but he has been clinical, so Gareth needs to keep him in his best position.
He brings a fear factor that worries defences.
Sweden are a big, strong side, very difficult to break down, are well organised and set up defensively.
They don’t want forwards playing down the sides of their centre-backs and getting in behind with clever passing. They want England to be the England of old, if you like, being forced to cross from deep so their defence can lap it up and then hit on the counter or force a set-play. If England bring the style of game they have started with, they will be uncomfortable.
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of positives to be taken from how England controlled the majority of the game against Colombia but they tested Gareth’s side in so many ways, including temperament, that it will give Sweden plenty of food for thought.
Colombia were calculated and got under the skin at times. It underlined the real importance of keeping your composure in the face of provocation.
As much as I like VAR and the honesty it brings, the referee should have been stronger and sent off Wilmar Barrios for his headbutt — that would have defused what followed. If you can’t rely on the referee, teams have to keep cool. Colombia coach Jose Pekerman criticised England for going down too easily. He’s talking rubbish. What that has shown is that England are getting smarter in how to play the physical teams. Take it to the edge of the line but don’t cross it. Hopefully, Tuesday’s game will equally serve as a good lesson to learn from. The mood in the camp will be euphoric at the moment. England know they have a great chance and the penalties will give plenty of confidence. A side that comes back from a deficit in penalties has great character as well as talent and mentality but, as cold as it sounds, when you are in this situation you have to put euphoria aside and stay grounded.
The way teams have fallen, the way the draw has gone, this tournament has given England a fantastic opportunity. Yet it has also handed out some stark warnings. No matter what your history or ego, you can go home very easily. Switzerland were better than Sweden but the Scandinavians got through.
What I do know is that, if I was playing, I’d desperately want this chance. If England beat Sweden, they will face Croatia or Russia; all have good players but Gareth’s side can win. That would give me great confidence of making a World Cup final.
It’s a great situation, the kind of opportunity a player hardly ever gets and one England must take advantage of.