Thread by @pythaginboots

#ENGCRO Euro 2020 - Tactical Thread

Key Points:

- Sterling and Mount double team in the left half space
- Kane redundant (lacks penetration)
- Phillips puts in a Kante performance and dominates the right half space
- No overlaps

CC: @TacticalPad

#EURO2020 #ENG #CRO

Whilst Tripper held, Mount bombed forward in support of Sterling. Both gave Vrsaljko a torrid time, combining with one another and taking turns to go round him and cut in side.

Kane is a flat track bully. Lacks the pace to stretch well organised defences and despite facing a sub par Croatia backline, he was incapable of stretching them and finding pockets of space.

Do not see him hurting bigger sides deeper in tournament.

The lack of overlaps from England's full backs was concerning. It gives us stability, but long term Kane needs aerial service if he is to thrive in this tournament. Our wide men are also being forced to create when outnumbered. Against bigger teams this will be an issue.

This hurt Foden in particular who despite a promising start needed Walker to overlap and free him away from the right wing. This did not happen and Perisic came back to make it 2 v 1.

Foden's passing angles inside were also cut off, so he became limited as a threat.

Rice held which allowed Phillips to bomb on very aggressively. Phillips was waiting for whichever Croatian midfielder got the ball and then hounded them like a hungry dog. These interceptions were key to stopping Croatia from establishing a stranglehold.

At one stage England looked lost.. and did not look like they knew how to break Croatia's backline. Then that man Phillips once again broke forward, beyond Croatia's midfield and had the composure to find the excellent Sterling who made a much needed run in behind (a rarity).

Croatia offered no threat. Perisic faced double marking himself. Vrsaljko faced his colleage from Atletico who read him like a book and Modric lacked the legs to outperform Mount who faced him in the Champions League so was not overawed by him.

A well-deserved victory for England over a very poor Croatia team.

Still a lot to work on for England but that is a solid start to the tournament. My only concern is that I expect England to sail through the group stages so limitations won't be exposed to learn from.

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