On Monday, England won a hard fought opening World Cup soccer game against Tunisia. Two composed goals by England striker Harry Kane made the difference and the land of hope and glory came out with a 2-1 victory. But it was a tense affair, and considering the comparative skill of the teams, England should have secured a more confident victory.
In light of that, here are some suggestions from four England “experts” on how their team can improve before its next game. Who are these experts? Myself (of course), my little brother Charlie, my middle brother Andrew, and my good friend Andy Walker. Andy Walker is a semi-professional soccer player who also works in the city of London, Charlie Rogan was an accomplished high school soccer player in Florida (where his British accent also won him 3,012 dates), and Andrew Rogan is a marine biologist who knows more about sharks and soccer than Charlie or myself.
Anyway, here are six questions I put to the experts.
1) What went wrong?
Andy Walker: Sterling and Alli. Alli should have been substituted at half time as it was evident that we needed fresh legs. Sterling was below par. In addition, the video assistant referee (VAR) didn’t do England any favors. There were two definite penalties on Kane as he was dragged down during set pieces. England needed to be more clinical in front of goal; we should’ve been 5-1 up at half time. Tunisia were also time wasting and being cynical, disrupting the England flow.
Charlie: Early misses set the tone and the penalty reinforced old memories and the fleeting nature of great expectations.
Andy (brother): The same nerves which traditionally plague England during World Cups came into play, though to a much lesser extent than at previous world cups. There was also a lack of dynamism in the second half but people will not give enough credit to Tunisia for that development. The Tunisians had a game plan and stuck to it and are a very good side: the top seeded African country.
Me: Lethargy in moments of contest in the England-half of the midfield. England’s defensive play was at times too lazy and assumed that the Tunisians would not create bold plays to get inside the England box. That mistake should have led to at least one Tunisian goal.
2) What went right?
Andy Walker: In the heat of play, the team kept going and scored England’s first ever added time World Cup goal. The formation was good, but at times we were still passing sideways and backwards too much. At the 75-80 minutes mark everybody was screaming for England to put pressure on but the build up was very slow. Gareth Southgate [England’s coach] finally put Kane in the box to do what he does best, score goals. Look what happened. Two goals from corners.
Charlie: A young team showed their nerves and had a leader who led them to secure victory. The absence of nerves would indicate a team which didn’t care. The team will improve from here. The first match is under their belt and three points are deposited in the World Cup account.
Andy (brother): England played with energy and enthusiasm for much of the game. They were bold and aggressive at parts: Lingard was running all over of the pitch in the first half, Rashford and Loftus-Cheek were both cheeky in the second half: players with lots of pace and energy who were creating chances. The big center-half defenders Harry Maguire and John Stones were crucial in coming up for set pieces. We were lucky that the balls fell to Kane who is so lethal in those positions.
Me: Aggressive playmaking towards the Tunisian defensive areas. Kane was composed and lived up — exceeded, in fact — the heavy expectations put on his shoulders. Pickford was reliable in goal and never looked flustered (a traditional England weakness in international tournaments). Southgate is a natural leader who showed his strength and kept the team going.
3) What does England need to do to beat Panama?
Andy Walker: The pressure is off slightly after the Tunisia win. I would start with Loftus-Cheek instead of Alli, and Rashford instead of Lingard. Ashley Young played well but I would like to see Danny Rose have a run out and give Southgate a big decision to make for the Belgium game. Put simply: more of the same from England, but Southgate must consider carefully who plays and in what position.
Charlie: Play aggressively and allow John Stones to push up more and draw in other players; give Kyle Walker a talking to in relation to his sloppiness against Tunisia.
Andy (brother): This sounds obvious: but be aggressive, controlled, calm at the back. Play with a little more confidence and if they can do that, then they should come away with the victory which will see them through to the knockout stages. Just don’t let the nerves dominate: The squad do not want to go into the last game against a tremendously talented Belgium side needing a win. Panama are not as good a side as Tunisia but teams such as Iceland, Switzerland, Mexico have proven that the top teams are by no means invincible at this World Cup.
Me: More attacking football, go for the jugular in the first half and take risks. Don’t look for the 1-0 or 2-1 victory, look for the dominant destruction of the enemy.
4) Will England qualify to the knockout stage of the World Cup?
Andy Walker: 100 percent. Two draws in the last two group stage games should be enough. If and when we beat Panama, it will be interesting to see if England go all out against Belgium or throw the game to avoid Brazil.
Charlie: Yes.
Andy (brother): England should beat Panama and thus see themselves through to the knockout stages comfortably.
Me: Yes. England will annihilate Panama (a la Mattis with the Russians in Syria) and then play aggressively against an overrated Belgian side.
5) Should Rashford start game two, and should England change formation for the next game?
Andrew Walker: Yes, as mentioned before we need pure pace that scares defenders. Formation is good, however we did look a big lackluster at times when Tunisia broke against us.
Charlie: Don’t change the formation — confidence is key. Show confidence in the players and keep the same lineup.
Andy (brother): A tough decision for Southgate, but a very welcome one. There are so many players vying for these advanced spots. I would stick with Sterling, we need him to be playing well if we are going to go far in the knockout stages, but it is a tough call. Loftus Cheek was also excellent after he was brought on. And we need to remember that Jamie Vardy is also sitting on the bench. He can be so effective and brings something so different to Kane. One of the things that Southgate has done so well is sticking with his system, letting the players grow into their roles. But as against Tunisia, Southgate knows when he needs to change things and has the courage to make bold decisions. It’s exciting that these younger forwards are all looking so hungry for goals and glory. Certainly they deserve a glass of Pimm’s or two!
Me: Yes, alongside Sterling. Keep the three defender setup (I would even consider two defenders and a defensive holding midfielder). Get rid of a central midfielder to allow for both Rashford and Sterling at the front. Even if they don’t score, the combination will wear down the opposition teams they face.
6) Anything else to add?
Andy Walker: Vardy needs to be utilized; give him 45 minutes against Panama. I suggest England practice shooting in training as we looked rusty in front of goal.
Andy (brother): Nothing.
Charlie: No.
Me: Maintain the initiative. Speed, aggression, and surprise are the equitable cores to England’s ultimate victory (as with Operation Nimrod).
Anyway, fingers crossed for game two. Or as my premier league club team motto puts it, “nil satis nisi optimum.”
