Thread by @IJaSport

Watching Pickford play it long fifteen times in the second half of the Serbia match I realized something very important about English football. [thread]

Southgate's game plan was to manage the match through meters - 'the further the ball is from our goal the better'.

Whereas many of these English players (Foden, Rice, Bellingham, Stones, Walker) are accustomed to managing the matches through control of the ball.

This is an interesting clash philosophies, which can pretty much sum up how the Premier League has changed since Guardiola joined City.

Look at each of these examples 👇

This is the first one early in the second half.

Foden wants it.
Bellingham wants it short.
But Rice is signaling long.

Ultimately, it goes long.

This is the second one.

Bellingham signaling for his team to play the nearest free man and eventually comes to Pickford only to watch it sail over his head.

Here TAA comes short but Pickford goes long with no one really underneath Kane to provide support.

It's only thanks to Kane's individual efforts the ball isn't lost in the midfield with massive gaps between lines.

And another where Declan Rice comes short and Pickford plays long.

Rice's bodily language seems to transmit frustration.

This is the most telling one because although the outcome is a positive one, as Declan Rice points out, John Stones is the free man.

This clip shows the stark difference in approaches of football.

Here is a compilation of all of Pickford's long passes:

I'm not saying there's a right or wrong but simply pointing but simply find it fascinating to see players and manager of different playing styles trying align their intentions.

As the England continues in this tournament I wonder which philosophy will we see more of.