As of: 29.06.2021 1:24 p.m.
To everyone’s surprise, the defense is England’s strength at the EM. This was discussed in detail before the tournament. Astonishing things can be observed before the round of 16 against Germany.
By Hendrik Buchheister (London)
Chain of three? Back four? Chain of five? Who will replace Harry Maguire? Is a central defense with John Stones and Tyrone Mings the smallest risk? Or do Stones and Ben White do the least amount of damage?
It is amazing how fundamentally the English public debated the defense of the home national team before the European Championship, and not a few weeks before the tournament – but until the first whistle against Croatia. What was certain was that the defense is the main weak point in the selection of coach Gareth Southgate, who was a defender himself during his playing days.
The debates on the island have shifted
Before the round of 16 against Germany this Tuesday, amazing things can be observed among the English. The debates have shifted. The topic is Harry Kane’s goal doldrums and the ideal cast for the offensive midfield. The defense is no longer discussed. Because there is nothing to discuss.
England made it through the preliminary round without conceding a goal, for the first time since the 1966 World Cup, which, as is well known, ended with the title. The team at the EM is still a long way from that. But what is certain is that, to everyone’s surprise, the defense is the strongest part of the team. England only allowed three shots against Croatia (1-0), Scotland (0-0) and the Czech Republic (1-0).
Pickford helped overcome a national trauma
They were all parried by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. He helped overcome a national trauma at the World Cup in Russia three years ago when he saved Carlos Bacca’s penalty in the round of 16 against Colombia. For the first time since 1996 England won another penalty shoot-out. Pickford’s heroism has not been able to outshine his achievements since then at Everton.
They are mixed. “Erratic” is a word that is often used to describe the goalkeeper – moody, unpredictable, erratic. In the past season he fouled Liverpool’s defense chief Virgil Van Dijk so badly that he suffered a cruciate ligament rupture. If Pickford’s challenger Nick Pope from Burnley FC hadn’t been suffering from knee problems for the European Championship, he would probably have had to fight for his place as number one. That’s how he is seeded and, as is usually the case with the national team, there is nothing to complain about about his performance.
Confirmed central defender duo
Central defender duo John Stones and Harry Maguire, who played together for the first time at the European Championships in the final game in the preliminary round against the Czech Republic, play in front of Pickford. Maguire has just returned from a six-week injury hiatus. At the World Cup in Russia, “Slab Head”, as Maguire is called, was still a newcomer to the team. He is now the most expensive defender in the world, captain of Manchester United – and a scandal since he was on vacation in Mykonos last summer for assault and attempted bribery of police officers was convicted.
Coach Southgate has just re-explained how much Maguire has matured since joining Manchester United from Leicester City for almost € 90million. He is happy to have his defense chief available again in time for the knockout phase.
Maguire has to be a bit of a beetroot too. The Portuguese played a major role last season in helping John Stones find their way back to the class that Manchester City was once worth more than 55 million euros. Stones has revived his career, was nominated for the national team for the first time in a year in March and confidently led the English defensive in Maguire’s absence in the first two European Championship games.
Remarkable selection on the outside lanes
England has a remarkable selection in the full-back positions, even without Ben Chilwell, who will have to isolate himself until Tuesday after violating the Corona rules. Until Trent Alexander-Arnold was injured in preparation for the tournament, Southgate even had four (!) Right-backs in the squad.
The others are Kyle Walker, Reece James, and Kieran Trippier. Trippier always flies a bit under the radar in England because he plays for Atlético Madrid, but enjoys the highest level of trust at Southgate and is the only Englishman with a goal in a World Cup semi-final alongside Bobby Charlton (1966) and Gary Lineker (1990). His free kick against Croatia (1: 2) three years ago was not enough to make it into the final.
Shaw has flourished since Mourinho’s departure
Trippier made his only appearance at the EM on the left side, but Luke Shaw from Manchester United should operate there against Germany. Like his colleague center-back John Stones, Shaw has managed a resurrection that brought him back to the national team after a two and a half year absence. It helped that he no longer works under José Mourinho.
This criticized Shaw publicly several times so sharply that a campaign by the trainers had to be assumed. After Mourinho questioned Shaw’s achievements again in his role as a TV professional, Shaw hit back: “I’m trying to look ahead, but he obviously can’t.”
The first real test of England’s defense
So look ahead, to England versus Germany. It should be the first real test for England’s defense at the EM, and despite the stable performance in the preliminary round, there is one or the other reason to believe that the back line could skid against stronger opponents.
Maguire will need some time to get used to his injury. Stones has to prove that he can do without Rúben Dias even against high-class teams. Goalkeeper Pickford is always observed with a certain nervousness anyway. Or, to sum it up: There were reasons why England’s defense was discussed before the EM. Against Germany, the so far flawless defensive can show that the hysterical tone of the debate was superfluous.
Source: sportschau.de