PARTY PIECE PAYS DIVIDENDS

ENGLAND are causing panic at the World Cup with set-pieces.

We had not scored from 72 set-pieces at tournaments, now we have three goals from eight of them.

My understanding is Steve Holland is a bit of a geek in his planning. Very creative. I know players who have worked with him. He will be having a big influence. He’s a technician.

We’re not just whipping the ball into the box. What you have to analyse is how we are getting the space.

How does John Stones (right) get free to head in his first goal. Watch how Jordan Henderson peels off and brings two men out of the box before Stones scored his second.

We’ve shown creativity, but are also a huge physical presence.

I know these lads anyway, but walking past Dele Alli, Harry Maguire and Stones pitchside after the game the other day, you realise they must terrify the opposition. Every one 6ft-plus. They have other teams panicking. And now we’ve a player to put the ball on the money in Kieran Trippier, whether floated, whipped or clipped into the danger zone. He is a serious weapon. Southgate’s visit to the US to study NFL, specifically the Seattle Seahawks, is interesting too. NFL and basketball are about little blocks to get an inch or a yard. It may not totally convert to football, but is something to look at. I attribute much of the success to the ability to run the right patterns and the perfect delivery of the ball.