Tactical Analysis: England vs Croatia - is 4-2-3-1 the answer?
England’s Euro 2020 campaign kicks off with a win…
A 1-0 win, granted, but it all counts the same.
I don’t like being critical of the national team, or Southgate and his staff, for that matter.
But reflection in any setting is important, so it’s only right that we analyse the opening performance of England’s Euro 2020 campaign.
This is not intended to reflect any negativity, I actually feel positive about the squad in this tournament.
In fact, in the build-up to the tournament I’ve been whole-heartedly optimistic about the squad - as can be heard on BBC Radio Stoke
With England breaking their curse and beginning the Euro’s tournament with a win, you cannot fault the players and staff too much, but there’s always room for improvement.
Is 4-2-3-1 the answer?
When the finalised squad was released, I predicted a 4-2-3-1 set-up due to the selection of 3 out-and-out defensive midfielders in Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice & Kalvin Phillips.
Of course, with Henderson still seeking match-fitness, the duo of Phillips and Rice was the obvious selection.
This double-pivot was integral to achieving a clean sheet against the tricky Croats.
It ensured that there was flexibility throughout the team, without sacrificing balance in defence.
IN-POSSESSION: HOW WE SHOULD HAVE PLAYED
In-possession, England often shifted into a 4-3-3 system, which saw the likes of Kalvin Phillips progressing slightly further up the pitch, as Declan Rice slotted into a holding midfield role.
As we’ve seen this season with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side, flexibility is key in achieving greater numbers in attack. Over the course of the season, we've seen Joao Cancelo assume an inverted free-roam role, in which he is given licence to join the midfield and perform as an additional central midfielder. This set-up saw City play with a back three when in possession, allowing them to create a vicious overload in attack. It is worth noting that whilst City’s main formation was 4-3-3, the same can be done in an initial 4-2-3-1 set-up.
At times during the game against Croatia, England’s Kieran Trippier, deployed as a left-back, pushed up in a slightly inverted role (nowhere near as extreme as Cancelo for City).
Meanwhile, Walker progressed into the opponents final-third a handful of times, but it was always through overlapping runs, forcing him out wide with limited options.
In my opinion, there was a lack of inverted runs throughout our full-backs and I believe it is the fundamental reason as to why we did not control the game in the second-half. It would have offered an overload in the midfield and would have allowed for greater control of the game overall - something of which we failed to achieve in the second-half.
Due to the versatility of this 4-2-3-1 formation, allowing England to progress with the ball in an adapted 4-3-3 system when in-possession, the holding midfielder in Declan Rice should have dropped between Mings and Stones, to form an out-and-out back three.
HOW WE SHOULD HAVE PLAYED IN-POSSESSION: inverted wing-backs creating a central overload in midfield.
Out of Possession: How We Should Have Played
Of course, with this English overload in the centre of the pitch, defensive organisation is key in achieving balance.
As such, when Croatia re-assume possession, a low-block can easily be incorporated through Declan Rice dropping between the two centre-backs to create a back-five, with the two wing-backs providing the most width.
Phillips and Mount would sit just in-front of Rice, whilst Kane would drop very-slightly deeper than Foden and Sterling, as he usually does.
In fairness to Southgate, the low-block that England set-up with in the second half worked really well and frustrated the Croats by limiting options.
It’s this sort of defensive system that has seen Chelsea nullify attacking threat this season, assuming a low block with an organised back-five.
HOW WE SHOULD HAVE PLAYED OUT OF POSSESSION: Rice dropping between Stones and Mings to create a back five. Perfect for nullifying attacking threat and preparing for counter-attacking transitions.
The Verdict
Overall, Southgate got the majority of decisions correct.
A win is a win, and although control was lost in the second-half, you have to bear in mind the 27-degree-heat conditions that prevented usual pressing.
In terms of personnel, I would have liked to have seen Jack Grealish come on for Phil Foden, instead of Marcus Rashford, who I believe is carrying a slight knock.
I thought the introduction of Bellingham for Kane was spot on, as it allowed us to preserve Kane who was rendered impractical in those last-ten minutes, as England looked to break on the counter - thanks to pressure from Croatia.
That is why I was a little shocked to see Calvert-Lewin brought on for the final few minutes in these conditions.
This is where I would have looked to bring Bukayo Saka, who is comfortable nullifying the opposition and offers a plethora of pace for counter-attacking transitions.