Since watching all the Euro24 games back in order of 1st to last. I've concluded that we were really awful in the first three games and then weren't as bad as we remember for the remainder. And the catalyst was at the end of Rd16, we switched to a 343 then got better with each game. The pivotal moment was the Slovakia game where we rode our luck with a moment from Bellingham to stay in the tournament and if we hadn't been bold enough to make that switch thereafter, we very likely would have gone out in the Qtrs. But there were also two big reasons why I think we couldn't replicate 2024 into 2022. Firstly for whatever reason, Kane was as bad as I've ever seen him play and looked like he wasn't even match fit but Southgate kept starting him. The 2nd reason was that left side again with Foden not being a winger, but there was no natural LB like we had in Qatar to compensate this. I think many think back to 2024 and overlook just how detrimental those two factors are. And the formation switch really helped mitigate both these problems, even if we never fully replicated the attacking fluency of Qatar - But Qatar was the most fluid England team since 1966-1970.. But back on topic, Tuchel looks like he's sticking with a 4231 and no natural LB. And even if he risks O'Reilly at LB, I'm not keen on our left wingers in a 4231. I'm not even keen on the right side either..
Tuchel has a remarkable ability post game to diagnose the problems caused by playing Henderson, and yet never connect it to Henderson. I still can't get over having the strongest midfield depth since at least 2010 available and still every game using probably the most limited midfielder we've taken to a tournament this century and possibly well beforehand.
Strange how, once again, Tuchel had Alex Scott on the bench but failed to use him. He passed off playing O' Reilly there instead as a needs where needs must scenario. But it's genuinely starting to feel now like he didn't want to risk seeing Scott outshining Henderson and making his selection look even more futile. Edit. Plus why go on in your news conferences about the urgent need to foster partnerships and build combinations, then not even attempt to deploy your proven trophy-winning midfield combo of Scott and Anderson? It just doesn't add up.
In the NZ game you can see that you need a playmaker/a wildcard option to crack a defence. Luckily Tuchel left those players out of the squad. lmao
I was never expecting a great performance or a massive win, world cup friendlies as we've seen with other nations aren't all that important. I disagree with it being an advantage to keep Croatia guessing though. Sorry but we should be beating them 8/10 times. The annoying factor is that March was totally wasted, so we have not had any real chance for players to build partnerships. The little we've seen of Henderson/Burn just confirms that these are really really strange picks. I get leaving Foden/Palmer behind, but these two picks are stranger than any Southgate pick that I always criticised him a lot for. Burn is completely out of his depth and Henderson is far far past his best which wasn't good enough at that time.
Has Gordon ever had a good game for England? Can´t renember one... looks like a League One player out there
All in all another disappointing performance/result last night, we always look crap in friendlies under Tuchel. Just hope we perform much better once the tournament starts and we're not playing against a team that puts 10 men behind the ball. Based on performances last night, this SHOULD be the team to start against Croatia on 17th June: Pickford James Konsa Guehi O'Reilly Anderson Rice Saka Bellingham Rashford Kane Neither Rogers or Jude did much last night, but Jude is the better player and should start in the number 10 role. I actually think Rogers is better on the left, so could play there, but Rashford played well last night and has pace to burn and that seems to work better with Kane in the team. One thing I really wish Kane would stop doing is dropping into the number 10 position, he needs to stay in the box more, I think he had 21 touches last night and 19 of them were outside the box. Watkins clearly isn't a right winger, Quansah clearly isn't a natural right back, Henderson clearly isn't at the level any more and hopefully gets very few minutes in the world cup. Stones looked rusty and unfit to me, I really hope he goes with Konsa and Guehi which is our best pairing. Stones will be useful for set pieces and adding physicality late on in games, but he's barely played all season and doesn't look fit enough to me. This will be exploited by better teams than New Zealand. I think Konsa is the better centre back these days. Still cannot for the life of me understand why Hall wasn't picked even though Spence put in a decent cross for the goal. Also, not having Trent or Palmer as creative options off the bench was telling. Feel sorry for Alex Scott who should have got some game time.
Looks like a proper football ground so hopefully a better atmosphere. Orlando is generally more humid though. I'm not expecting entertainment.
Your Player of the Match connected by @EE: Rio Ngumoha! 💪A special debut 🙌 pic.twitter.com/DJvlN5aN1R— England (@England) June 7, 2026
I really wouldn't read much into this game at all, this was all about getting playing time in the heat and humidity. I'm sure Tuchel would have liked to have seen a better performance and more goals but I doubt he's too concerned or that it's changed his mind about his starting XI v Croatia. Rio played because of a lack of right wing options with Saka and Madueke absent, Scott didn't because it gave the minutes to four squad players who he could pick.
That numbered cap is a good idea. Who came up with that? Do any other nations do it? Only 1,300 in over 150 years is an exclusive club to be in.
I would have taken dowman and Ngumoha to the world cup as wildcards. Its a real shame rio isn't going. I think Tuchel has dropped a clanger on this. I hope he starts on Wednesday
The pick of Henderson really annoyed me at the time and what a month later, it still really annoys me. What a waste of a pick just for what would be a cheerleader role and because of his pick, Tuchel has made sure he has a number of hybrid players who aren’t as good as say a Wharton or Scott having to cover for a player that I’m not sure will get much game time. Also having a knock on effect to not having a natural attacking left back due to the knock on effect if Tuchel has to play James or O’Riley in midfield and I think that’s why we have two fullbacks who cover both left and right backs. I think he’s ended up complicating issues all because he had to pick a someone who talks well, points well and sings a good karaoke song that must mean England will play well.
Reunited ❤️Our four @Arsenal players have joined up with the #ThreeLions in Florida 🙌 pic.twitter.com/4kKWoduArE— England (@England) June 7, 2026
I'm sure you're right, but we're talking here about a manager who came into the job preaching about the importance of every player having one single position and knowing their role. Now, 11 days before a World Cup, he's got Ollie Watkins playing on the right wing and his No.1 left-back in midfield.
I remember thinking after Euro 2021 that Henderson would be slowly phased out of the team as he was clearly on the decline. Ridiculous that he's still an option five years down the line. I don't think we could find an example from any other nation's squad of a team shooting themselves in the foot to this extent. I'm a huge fan of Mainoo but I'm not convinced by him as one of the deeper midfielders in this setup either. I don't think it plays to his strengths. Tuchel has structured the squad in a way that makes us insanely reliant on two players (Rice + Anderson) to the point we're in major trouble if either gets injured or suspended. It's dreadful squad building.
Giving the Arsenal players shit for not being there ? They can't win. Next season he'll be complaining they've played to much football.
That's one thing Southgate did well. Phasing Henderson out of the squad. The fact even Southgate didn't take him to Euro 2024 makes it more ridiculous that Tuchel has taken him
I think its pretty much only England that gave there Arsenal and PSG players extra days off. I’d have asked Madueke at least to be there, and then he wouldn’t have to of watched Watkins play on the right wing.
"I'm speechless!" 🦁❤️ pic.twitter.com/RSSzt672L2— England (@England) June 7, 2026 Hopefully we can put to bed now this barmy concept of Jude being some kind of troublesome loose cannon disliked by the rest of the squad.