England's back-three formation got the best from their players at the World Cup but it was exposed in the semi-final by Croatia's master technicians.
Gareth Southgate and his squad have watched that game back and I can understand why the England manager might be tempted to go with a back four on Friday.
This is how Croatia were able to outnumber England in Russia...
1) Croatia (red dots) are on the attack but England (white dots) initially look set up to deal with them.
They have Croatia's midfield three covered, the full backs are occupying the wingers and there are three centre backs to cope with their lone centre forward.
2) But Croatia do not stay in this shape. Their full backs fly forward to pin England's full backs. That allows Croatia's wingers to come inside.
England's midfielders can try to pick them up but in doing so they risk leaving creative geniuses Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic free in midfield.
3) If England's midfield do not pick up the Croatia wingers, then the responsibility lies with the wide centre backs to engage them.
The big risk here is that if a centre back breaks the defensive line, he leaves a gap for the centre forward to run in behind.
Players will feel like they are on trial in empty ground
On the one hand, playing behind closed doors helps England more than Croatia by taking away home advantage. They don't have to worry about trying to silence the crowd and can focus on the job at hand.
But in many ways this will feel like a dress rehearsal. How can you recreate the intensity and edge of a competitive match in an empty, hollow stadium?
It will surely kill the match as a spectacle and may put more pressure on the young players who could make their England debuts.
I am particularly excited to see Jadon Sancho. He is quick, has an excellent touch and great vision. But without the extra adrenaline from a packed crowd, these young players may feel more self-conscious - as if they are on trial.
babysitter
141
Modric feels disrespected, but takes a best player award he doesn't deserve while being one of the two players nominated that didn't deserve to be there. Funniest thing is, Croatia only managed to beat England in that game because the defense switched off, and his performance was none existent. His head has swollen since he got an undeserved award and was praised beyond belief for a game he was invisible in. Only Real Madrid and Croatian fans think otherwise, anyone else that agrees with him is blind. If Modric wants respect, maybe he should relinquish his reward, and stop whoever it is that is successfully creating the amazing PR he is receiving.
eloro
136
Why do they make it sound as if this Croatian are the king of tactics. The question is.. how did Spain beat them 6 goals to non. Instead of south gate watch his failed match.. he should watch Croatia's match against Spain and learn from their smartness.
interface
92
Modric can expose England again? He was invisible during that game, and the only time he had the ball he gave it away. Yes, England deserved to lose because they switched off at the back, but Modric was nowhere to be seen. I do not understand why this player has been getting so much attention lately, and I especially don't understand why he got so much praise from the England game, nor most of the World Cup. He didn't do that well, nowhere near good enough to warrant all the attention/praise. Maybe there is truth to the whole Real Madrid conspiracy...