Gareth Southgate’s England may have beaten a Netherlands side that failed to reach a second consecutive major football finals but there are signs of green shoots of recovery after a long winter following the sad debacle against Iceland during Euro 2016.
Almost two years after England failed to perform against Iceland in Nice, Southgate has qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the first of four friendlies will help the young England boss decide who will be on the plane in the summer.
Although Southgate’s England appear to be leaning towards a back three, with wing backs providing width, the team that he fielded against the Dutch featured three nominal right backs in Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, and Joe Gomez.
Trippier’s decent crossing ability got him the gig at right wing back but more interesting was the fact that Walker and Gomez were stationed either side of John Stones in a three man back line with Danny Rose taking up the left wing back slot after Ryan Bertrand withdrew from the squad with a back injury.
Rose has suffered from a lack of first team football this season and his below-par performance might be a disappointment but at least England have choices down the left flank with the experience of Bertrand and Manchester United’s Ashley Young a potential squad choice and – if he can stay fit – perhaps even a chance for Fabian Delph of Manchester City.
In Walker and Gomez, Stones’ centre back deputies had the physicality to play at centre half – protecting the passing talent of Stones – but they also give the defence plenty of pace – possibly allowing Southgate to play a high line for some games against group opponents who are likely to park the bus.
At least that was the plan before Gomez picked up an early ankle injury which will force him out of both legs of Liverpool’s Champions League quarter final tie against Manchester City. Leicester’s Harry Maguire came in and did a decent job before he withdrew with an injury before the end.
Talismanic England striker Harry Kane was injured but the forward line in his absence was loaded with pace – with Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, and Raheem Sterling pulling their hosts around.
In Lingard, England have a ball-carrier who can also create space and break through massed defences.
Perhaps a pity, then, that central midfield continues to be an issue. We’re a long way from the likes of Frank Lampard. Steven Gerrard, and Paul Scholes all vying for an attacking midfield berth.
Instead, we had Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jordan Henderson and although the Liverpool pair might have provided some zip and passing to the midfield they were not much better than the subs deployed on the night in Amsterdam.
Behind all of them, though, will be a difficult choice in goal. Joe Hart may get the nod as third choice because of his tournament experience but England have promising candidates for the number 1 shirt in Jordan Pickford, Jack Butland, and Nick Pope.
So, perhaps apart from the lacklustre midfield we could be looking at a progressive plan by Southgate whose squad for Russia will be youthful and inexperienced but with the right tactics and responsibility taken this side could surprise a few sides.