Football News: England: Boring but Efficient?

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First off, I just want to express my utter embarrassment at the behaviour of some England fans this summer.

They've been smashing up everything from Ambulances to Bus stops, multiple people have suffered serious cuts to the face from flying bottles or glasses, and the police force are stretched thin trying to control the mobs.

It's truly disgusting in every sense of the word, and It's about time people grew up.

Onto the players though, who as a collective haven't embarrassed themselves at all. Make no bones about It, this is a very average squad. So to achieve what they have already, is an accomplishment in itself. Boring or not.

Obviously, the following is just my opinion on each players performances. As ever in football, your own opinions may vary heavily! I'm not a huge England supporter either so don't expect rose tinted analysis!

Jordan Pickford:

Pickford hadn't had a lot to do, initially. Tunisia, Panama and Belgium all had one chance and scored it. He probably could've stopped the goal against Belgium but I doubt he was expecting his defender to get down on his knees!

Onto the knockout stages though, and it is a different story. Pickford made a blinding save in the dying minutes against Columbia which nearly won the game, and then saved a penultimately decisive (albeit poor) penalty in the shootout.

Against Sweden England faced a tougher test. Pickford had a lot to do, but not much of it was particularly difficult. A back post header almost straight at him, a volley just about going over his head etc.

There was one save though (down low to his right) that was fantastic. He didn't direct the save very well and had to be bailed out with a block on the follow up, but just stopping the shot deserves plaudits as he got down very quickly.

No major mistakes, no fuss. In a tournament marred by goalkeeping howlers, he's kept his head. Despite having little to do previously, he pulled it out the bag against Sweden. Fair play.

Kieran Trippier:

Trippier's not had to do much defending aside from the Columbia game (where he made so many good tackles I lost count). At least he has proven he's still awake, because Ante Rebić is going to get at him in the Semi-final.

Trippier's had a free reign to attack relentlessly, and takes well over half the set pieces. He really should be making better use of his freedom from open play, but It's hard to criticise him too much.

That is primarily because his set piece delivery has been astonishing. He's created more chances than any other defender in the competition, and most of them have come from free kicks and corners.

As average as his open play crossing has been, his overall distribution has been fantastic. His passes in behind and in the build up play have been a constant threat. He is definitely in the running for the best England player this summer (so far).

Kyle Walker:

Walker has been a weak link in possession. He is very over rated on the ball. He has gone past people but only because his blistering pace allows him to knock it beyond them and catch up to it before any one else.

His first touch and his passing have been average and he's made it hard to play out from the back at times. His first touch is to stop the ball bypassing him, his second touch is to actually control the ball!

What I will say is that he is in a very uncomfortable position and he's not moaned (much). The penalty he conceded to Tunisia was lazy defending (a little harsh too), but his overall performances have been anything but lazy.

His recovery runs and his covering in behind the high line is vital, as well as his lung bursting sprints for little things like giving Pickford a better passing angle or preventing throw ins. He's a hard worker and it's rightly endeared him to many.

John Stones:

He's not really had a lot to do in truth. He's shifted the ball out wide very well and he's only had a couple of shaky moments in total, which is good compared to his usual few a game.

He did score two good goals against Panama and he has been a constant threat from set pieces. There really isn't a lot else to judge. He's been protected very well, and left to just distribute the ball out to better players.

One thing I will credit him with, is his fitness levels as he's started every game so far. He's the only outfield player to do so in the England squad.

Harry Maguire:

Maguire has always had problems with defending but he's improving by the game. He was getting turned easily by Panama players and looks 3 seconds behind everyone else at times, but he rarely ever loses a header to be fair.

He's been a major culprit in a couple of collective errors at set pieces too. When Panama scored the line was all over the place, and as the strongest in the air he should've made a point of marking Yerry Mina for Columbia's equaliser.

As inconsistent as he's been defensively though, he's been superb on the ball. His powerful forward runs have purpose, and he's picking out good passes at the end of them. The space he's given at international level really suits him.

I have to mention his threat in the opposition box as well. Not just his goal against Sweden, but the way he attacks the back post and heads the ball back into the danger zone is just brilliant. It's become a trademark lethal weapon.

Without Maguire stepping out into midfield, England would be at risk of being smothered. He's been vital to the style of play and with that in mind, he's another in with a shout for England's best player, despite his minor defensive flaws.

Ashley Young:

I'm disappointed in Young. I backed him to go to this tournament and he's offered little from open play. He is being given more space than Trippier even, but he's done nothing with it aside from the first 30 minutes of the tournament.

He has defended with a lot of heart and that is admirable, but you don't play Young at wing back just to put in a shift defensively. It says it all that Sweden was his 4th game and it was the first time he attempted a cross with his left foot.

To a lesser extent than Trippier, he has been a threat with his set piece delivery though. He created Maguire's goal, and that dead ball delivery he possesses will probably see him keep his place now.

Jordan Henderson:

Henderson's arguably been the best player at the tournament for England, alongside Trippier and Maguire. He is the only vocal leader in the first choice XI, and he's led by example to boot. And to think some people preferred Jonjo Shelvey!

As well as his work rate, he's been intelligent defensively; so much so that nobody has been able to get at Stones. His last ditch block against Sweden epitomized him, as did volunteering for a penalty whilst better penalty takers hid.

Henderson is also the main creative midfielder for England. They have lots of receivers but few who can pick them out. The way in which Henderson has spotted these runs and found the mark, has been consistently brilliant.

It shows how important he is because in every game when he's been taken off it has fallen apart in midfield shortly afterwards. Nobody else in the squad can do what he does. Nobody left out of the squad can either, for that matter.

It's a shame that the praise has been so backhanded. It's been along the lines of "he's starting to pass forwards and now he looks better." The truth is that he has always played like this though. The only difference is people are now noticing it.

Jesse Lingard:

Lingard seems to be getting a lot of stick. Strange considering he's been one of the only players who looks a consistent and genuine goal threat from open play. If he isn't playing the pass, he is on the end of it!

His Panama goal is the goal of the tournament so far, for me. Maybe it wasn't the best opposition, but David De Gea (even in a Manchester United shirt) wouldn't stop that. His assist against Sweden was also impressive.

Lingard's work rate is exceptional. He pressures defenders into mistakes, chases lost causes, and makes diagonal runs that create space for others. He's so unselfish and he's England's most intelligent player by far.

The only blemish on his tournament so far, was his finishing in the opening 30 minutes against Tunisia. He could and should have had a hat trick but at least he was making runs unlike many others.

Dele Alli:

He's pulled one out the bag there against Sweden because this was going to be a pretty damning verdict prior to that game. Hopefully it will kick start his tournament.

Alli had been terrible. He was sulking about, making sloppy fouls to relieve pressure on the opposition, not making runs, and just continuously giving the ball away. I'm not sure he was even fit to be playing.

Suddenly against Sweden, he sparked life. In the first 20 minutes he showed no change, and then that fire in his belly lit up. He was pressing, running off the back of people, working play in the channels, and he was rewarded with his goal.

Alli is at his best running beyond the striker. He has to trust in the likes of Henderson and Lingard to pick him out, and keep making runs into dangerous areas. He's as good as useless on the halfway line.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek:

Whilst Alli was out of the side, Loftus Cheek played a couple games and a lot of people wanted him to keep his place. The problem is that despite visually trying harder than Alli, he offers very little in the final third.

What else are your attacking midfielders there to do if not to create and score goals? The highlight of his tournament is a shot he dragged wide, which deflected in. His striking technique needs serious work and he needs to pick his head up.

Whilst those powerful runs look good, they are down blind alleys. Occasionally he'll manage to draw a foul, but his decision making is just not there yet. Maybe he is slightly out of his depth at this level, but he has time on his side.

Raheem Sterling:

The classic English scapegoat! Sterling was already to blame for England's expected exit before they kicked a ball. People were more interested in berating a tattoo commemorating his father, than supporting him.

Make no mistake, Sterling's finishing has been torrid. He could've scored at least twice but he has fluffed his lines every time. People are failing to realise that he creates space by pulling defenders into uncomfortable areas though.

Even when he gets the ball to feet, he turns and commits people. Everything good about England on the break, is stemming from Sterling. Teams are terrified of him to the point that he is marked by 4 players at times.

Whenever Sterling has been subbed, the team has struggled to get out of defence. His hold up play and his running is vital as he regularly eats up 40+ yards of territory either by chasing down a long ball, or running it clear of trouble.

It is a shame some England fans can't put the pitchforks down for long enough to see how crucial Sterling is to the team. The alternatives are not at his level in terms of their all around game, and that is why Southgate will keep picking him.

Harry Kane:

As hilarious as it is that he is leading the golden boot race, you can't put Kane's goals 100% down to fortune. His movement on corners against Tunisia has caused every team England face to panic and just bring him down.

If Kane has the composure to get up and lash the spot kicks into the top corner then good for him. As much as many think it should be, a penalty is not a guaranteed goal. Not even if you are Messi or Ronaldo...

As good as Kane has been at set pieces and from the spot though, he's been so frustrating in open play. He has absolutely no intention of playing football. Aside from a handful of good lay offs he's just played for free kicks.

He ignores runs, turns his back to defenders, and just falls over when they breath on him. It's diving and if he rolled around like Neymar, he'd be pulled up on it. I guess Mauricio Pochettino has trained him well in the exotic dark arts.

Still, Kane is a goalscorer. Every team needs one of those, right? Maybe he's not as entertaining as Romelu Lukaku or as silky as Antoine Griezmann, but he's got more goals than both of them. How it goes in doesn't matter.

The Best of the Rest:

Nobody else has made more than 1 start so I'll keep the assessments brief.

I have been impressed by Fabian Delph and Gary Cahill. Both players have come in and put in a shift when required, without making mistakes or affecting the balance of the team.

Danny Rose made a horrible error to go to his knees and be skinned alive by Adnan 'bloody' Januzaj (yes, that one), so probably won't start again.

Trent Alexander-Arnold failed to beat the first man with nearly every set piece delivery but did the basics well in open play. Hopefully the experience has helped him for the future.

Eric Dier single handedly obliterates the momentum every time he steps on to the pitch. He actually made the slow (and dead on their feet) Swedish players look rapid! Fair enough though, as he'll be a hero for his Columbia penalty alone.

Marcus Rashford and Jamie Vardy have run around a lot but they don't do anywhere near as much as Sterling in the build up play, so they are competing with Kane. Either of them could thrive in his place, but probably won't get the chance.

Phil Jones and Danny Welbeck have faded into obscurity. Probably not a bad thing considering they usually only stand out when they make glaring mistakes.

Nick Pope and Jack Butland are the only players who've not played yet and that is unlikely to change unless there is an injury to Pickford, as he's not done anything to be dropped.

Written by Adam Jones July 10 2018 12:38:40