Euro 2020: England's struggles and questions around Southgate

Harry Kane must find ways to bail out his coach as they head into their final group game against the Czech Republic. (Photo credit: Sky Spor...

Harry Kane must find ways to bail out his coach as they head into their final group game against the Czech Republic. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

England’s form at the ongoing European championship is poor to put it mildly, the 1-0 win over Croatia may have coated the rough edges but their struggles in the goalless draw against Scotland exposed their creative weaknesses.

Each time you see Gareth Southgate’s line up and you can’t find Jack Grealish on it, you have a feeling of the manager missing that Euro 96 penalty all over again.

The double-pivot in the middle isn’t working and it sincerely must be either of Kalvin Phillips or Declan Rice, not the two together.

A few teams in the championship have tried this same double pivot and had to abandon it when it’s failing.

Portugal did in their opening game and didn’t find headway until Renato Sanchez came on for William Carvalho, same for France as Rabbiot had to make way for Dembele against Hungary.

You look at the English team and you see lots of potential but when the attack is blunt and no one seems to be able to break down the opposing team’s low block, then the managerial tinkering comes in but most times, Southgate lacks the right idea to make the difference.

The Czech Republic lie in wait for England, currently above England on goal difference, they won’t come easy for the Three Lions as a draw will be enough to earn them the top spot in the group.

Both teams are in the last 16 already.

Last 16: secured! ☑️

Monday's results mean the #ThreeLions are guaranteed a place in the #EURO2020 knockout stages. pic.twitter.com/cOr0GWo5ww

— England (@England) June 21, 2021

Locatelli is the new bride?

Cahanoglu off to Inter?

Make no mistakes, England has everything it takes to win this tournament, nearly men since forever, huffing and puffing in major tournaments and failing to get past the last 8 until they reached the semis of the 2018 world cup, critics can even attribute that to a favourable journey.

What happens if England doesn’t go further than the last 8? Gareth Southgate should be fired, there’s no coach in England that one can trust with these talents, there will be a very fine shout for Frank Lampard but the country should go foreign… Jurgen Low?

What do you expect to see against Czech? 

The team has Covid related issues so you might have to wait till late on to see who is available to be picked.

But should Southgate return with another double pivot, against a side that has strength on the flanks, you must really question his merits.