Thread by @city_tactics

2 big reasons why football has the chance to come home today
1/

1.) England players are more comfortable taking possession under pressure. The penny finally dropped during Barcelona and Spain’s domination. Since then kids have been trained differently in England 2/

The likes of Phillips, Foden, Grealish and Mount have been taught how to play with a man at their back and retain possession. England always had superstars but they’ve generally been swashbuckling, all action heroes focused on winning battles and making a key contribution 3/

Control of matches has been secondary.
Tournament football consistently saw England knocked out by teams who could take better care of the ball. But with improved coaching and world leading academies the technical gap is finally closing 4/

2.) England have always played English football. Up and at them high tempo, high intensity football. It’s a trope pundits still roll out today.
‘Don’t worry about them, let them worry about us’ - Ive heard this on both the bbc and itv coverage in the last few weeks 5/

Southgate has done the complete opposite in this tournament. He’s adapted to the opposition, focused on nullifying their threat and then attacked from that base. England haven’t been caught out short of numbers in any match and still haven’t conceded a goal in open play 6/

Adapting to the opposition has helped England control matches out of possession and having a team more comfortable on the ball has helped them control matches in possession.
Is it the most entertaining team we’ve ever produced? No, but the plan is working 7/

These are still baby steps. More expansive play should follow as more and more technically gifted players come through the system and the current crop flourish. The future’s bright no matter what happens today 8//

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