A spate of injuries to key players meant Gareth Southgate’s England team against Belgium was a product of contingency, but the game proved a microcosm of tactical themes that are likely to play an important role in this summer’s European Championship — matters of balance, width, ball progression and pressing.
The England manager said that he finds the midfield the most complex area of the team to balance.
“The balance of the team and the blend of players that can come and receive, that threaten in behind — especially when we’re attacking — is really important,” he said recently. “It can’t just be our 11 most talented [players], you’ve got to have the ability to defend well, to pose different problems for the opponent.”
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