The analytical set up that England possess at St George’s Park is the best in the world by all accounts. I honestly think this decision would have been almost pre-planned should we face the Italians at any stage and tweaked slightly based on recent performance. I have every faith this is the right move.
Absolutely - we have a plan A, B, C and D now. We’ve not had that for a long long time.
Let Chellini and Bonucci know they are in a game, use our pace.! IF WE SCORE FIRST keep at them and not sit back. Heart say England 2-0, Head says Italy 0-1.
Let Chellini and Bonucci know they are in a game, use our pace.! IF WE SCORE FIRST keep at them and not sit back. Heart say England 2-0, Head says Italy 0-1.
The pace will certainly come into it, but I don’t think England have to go full pelt from the outset. A longer game, possibly including extra time, will suit England’s younger legs and deeper bench.
Let Chellini and Bonucci know they are in a game, use our pace.! IF WE SCORE FIRST keep at them and not sit back. Heart say England 2-0, Head says Italy 0-1.
The pace will certainly come into it, but I don’t think England have to go full pelt from the outset. A longer game, possibly including extra time, will suit England’s younger legs and deeper bench.
Let Chellini and Bonucci know they are in a game, use our pace.! IF WE SCORE FIRST keep at them and not sit back. Heart say England 2-0, Head says Italy 0-1.
The pace will certainly come into it, but I don’t think England have to go full pelt from the outset. A longer game, possibly including extra time, will suit England’s younger legs and deeper bench.
Starters and finishers.
100% faith in what ever he thinks is the best way.
See you all tomorrow I can't hold the phone still any more!
Scary line up. Italy loved playing against Belgium’s three at the back. But in Southgate we trust.
Belgium with a half-fit De Bruyne, no Hazard and an ageing back three.
England also loved playing with a back three against the Germans own... Certainly wasn't a case of sitting back in that game.
Wonder if the plan is to use the extra pace of Shaw and Walker to scare the Italian defence, whilst also helping to deal with Immobile, Inzaghi and Chiesa
Scary line up. Italy loved playing against Belgium’s three at the back. But in Southgate we trust.
Didn't love playing against Austria's back three so much though.
Fair point. Everything I read showed Austria starting a four at the back but according to Coaches Voice, it transitioned to a five at the back in reaction to how Italy were playing.
Its all about Kane vs Chielini and Bonucci for me and then what we do about Jorginho.
Two schools of thought. Kane either occupies the CBs or he drops deep, feeding the runners, presumably Sterling with one of Saka/Sancho and Mount supporting.
You just know Chielini and Bonucci would prefer to man mark Kane but if he drops off between the lines they cant do that and he'll create space for others.
Everything goes through Jorginho. Assuming Rice is holding, it will be down to Mount and Phillips snapping at his heels. Press him, it cuts their supply. Give him time, he'll spring their counter attack.
We can dominate them like the Spanish did. We'll have the majority of possession, patient build up, it just whether we can break them down.
We win 3-1 in normal time. Kane turns Chielini inside out, Italy equalize with a scrappy set piece, Mount finishes off a counter attack and then Kane scores in the 89th min, triggering scenes nationwide like we've never seen before.
Its coming home. Arise Sir Gareth.
(More likely 0-0, a tense 30 mins extra time and the most stressful 6-5 shoot out we've ever seen!)
Yes, it will be interesting how Kane plays, as their CBs will love a battle against a No 9, but won't appreciate pacey runners coming at them. I have a feeling that Sterling will be more effective than Kane today, but Kane will do a lot of crucial work outside the box. Hopefully Sterling's finishing will be back to the standard of the earlier matches, as it wasn't great vs Denmark and if we are playing 3-5-2, that doesn't leave that many obvious goal scorers on the pitch in open play.
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Need Kane to put a shift in. If he plays his usual deep role it might work really well. Almost like a 352 with Sterling and Mount beyond.
Although he might sit on Jorghino until they tire.
Getting nervous though!
100% faith in what ever he thinks is the best way.
See you all tomorrow I can't hold the phone still any more!
Wonder if the plan is to use the extra pace of Shaw and Walker to scare the Italian defence, whilst also helping to deal with Immobile, Inzaghi and Chiesa