England’s finest night leaves Tuchel with selection dilemmas
As he landed with the team in Belgrade, and even before setting foot on the ground, he understood what was coming. To the German manager, who has been molding the England team to his liking since he took over from Gareth Southgate, he was in the crosshairs while he walked into Serbia. For ‘Andorra,’ England’s previous match ended with a victory, but the team’s play was not the most inspiring and the fans and pundits had a field day with the criticism. Many fans at Villa Park, well before the match ended, were still in a daze about where exactly was the national team headed.
The German manager, though, stood his ground and said, “I see what I see. I feel what I feel. I am convinced we will improve, then get better and better,” and it seems the prediction is coming true. England went to Serbia and not only in his reign, the England team played the best match by beating Serbia with a score of 5-0. The team displayed the most deadly counterattacking, with a defense that was both disciplined and controlled, and the tactics were on point. This victory—one that he has been waiting for, not only in score— has a very special meaning to him and the fans, for it has shown what he is capable of bringing to the team.
This was much more than three points. To many it was a performance that made the Rajko Mitic Stadium, one of the most hostile cauldrons in Europe, totally silent. England had the ace in possession, the tempo, and the goals while ruthlessness was on the scoreboard. The same could not be said for the Serbians, as they ended up not even registering a single shot on target. Victory for Tuchel was joyous, but it was questions of how to fit the overwhelming talent of the squad that was the dilemma now.
A Performance of Control and Confidence
Right from the first whistle, England took the initiative. Their intensity was enough to expect hissing and louder hissing. Instead, it totally silenced the crowd as England demonstrated impeccable ball control. Captain Harry Kane, therefore, indeed, went on to score one of the most spectacular goals ever coming in at seventy four in total for 109 international games. Kane was not the only one, as the whole team’s gruesome tactics of capture, the flag through consecutive passes was unbelievably head numbing.
It is fair to say that Tuchel was the master architect behind England’s performance. England’s back line remained compact yet aggressive, stifling space and preventing Serbia from counterattacking. Midfielders moved in sync, ensuring that the Serbians were always outnumbered. Serbia was stretched by the wide players, while the fullbacks balanced the attack by inverting at the right moments. England had a total of 24 shots-12 on target, dominating the Serbian defensive line with 42 touches in the opposition box.
In comparison, Serbia had a meager 3 shots on target, none of which took Jordan Pickford by surprise. England’s new-found defensive organization was on full display, earning Pickford his seventh consecutive clean sheet in competitive matches. Tuchel’s England, unlike Southgate’s which was often accused of lacking aggression, was dominant, pressing and suffocating the Serbians.
New Competition, New Heroes
Most importantly, England was able to thrive in the absence of some of the senior players. Unlike Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka, who are often the part of Tuchel’s plans, Jude Bellingham and Saka went missing. Yet the last minute replacements rose to the occasion.
Noni Madueke, who got to start on the right wing, was on fire. He gave Serbia’s defence a multitude of problems with his pace and was direct, finishing off with a goal. He has 5 goals with 9 appearances with the national team, which is hard to ignore. Young Aston Villa striker Morgan Rogers also had good moments. He slotted into the number 10 position that is usually occupied by Bellingham and thrived as a playmaker, confidently spearheading attacking plays.
Elliott Anderson also grabbed attention, building on a credible debut against Andorra. He had another calm, collected performance against Serbia. He completed 75 passes versus Serbia, which was added to the 107 completed against Andorra. It totals 182 passes, which is the most by any England midfielder in the first two games with the country from 2008 when the data was first collected. His workrate, and calmness is what got the glowing remarks from Tuchel, as Anderson has the ability to control the game at an international level.
Encouraging signs also came from the defense. Ezri Konsa and Marc Guehi scored their first goals for England which was a special moment for two center backs that are usually seen as backup. Their defense was secure and also added attacking play, especially on set pieces. This showed the increasing depth of the England squad.
Tuchel’s Tactical Blueprint
Tuchel has aimed to transform England into a possession-dominating team that presses high on the pitch since he took charge. The blueprint against Serbia was a textbook example. The midfield trio led by Declan Rice was able to keep Serbia on their heels by quickly recycling the ball. The full-backs underlapped, providing the proper width and still defending the width. Serbia was able to counterattack, but it was with such discipline that it avoided transition.
Much like Southgate, Tuchel’s approach is more philosophical. Southgate preferred to bank on organized defending and a moment of magic or two. Tuchel, on the other hand, demands full control of the game and positional discipline. It is a shift that needs more time but, as evidenced by the map of Belgrade, the players are learning quickly.
England’s attack was particularly striking. Rather than funneling every attack through one or two of the team’s stars, Tuchel’s side coordinated their attack as a whole. An unpredictable combination of Madueke, Rogers, Anderson, Kane, and more fluidly integrated into the team. England, for the first time in years, was able to not only perform efficiently but also put efficiently entertaining.
Selection Complications
Belgrade win was described as emphatic, yet it adds to Tuchel’s dilemma what to do with reintegrating Bellingham, Saka, and Foden alongside other stars, especially with how well their understudies performed. It’d be quite harsh to drop Madueke after how he performed. Rogers has put himself in contention for minutes in the number 10 position, and Anderson with the passing metrics. Even the defense with Konsa and Guehi is still perplexing for the established hierarchy with John Stones and Harry Maguire, and that’s troubling.
Tuchel himself has had to address the very concern, saying that “We have had a brilliant camp. It is international. These players proved a point all camp, and the team with their performance again.” It is for him to make the decision on positions.
It is the kind of unsought problem every manager wishes for, but with international football savage in nature, Tuchel must try to find the equilibrium while also avoiding a case of no competition at all. The coming camps will be vital as he attempts to narrow his players down for the World Cup.
Comparisons With the Past
When compared to the previous eras, the performance of England in Belgrade was indicative of a paradigm shift. During the Sven-Göran Eriksson tenure, England was, to put it generously, a team of individual talents. The XI was filled with superstars, such as Paul Scholes, who was embarrassingly put on the left flank, which caused the team to lose stability and underperform.
Operated differently, head coaches of the future such as Tuchel focused on roles. Players are chosen to meet tactical requirements, and not to indulge in ‘star’ status. The Serbia game was a testament to his approach. England was not weakened, and rather, showed depth and versatility in the absence of the usual players.
Perhaps it is his biggest achievement, which is to say that England used to be overly reliant on a handful of stars. Now, they function as a team, which is a positive shift that is a departure from the past. With how England is more a handful of stars, they seem to be poised to make a deep run in tournaments.
A Hostile Venue Silenced
There was ample talk about the intimidating atmosphere that England was about to face in Belgrade. The Rajko Mitic Stadium is a scary place with the cult tunnel of 240 meters and rabid fans. Nevertheless, Tuchel’s players quieted the stadium very quickly. England had control over the game and Serbia fans had little to cheer over.
There were some troubled times. Scuffles among Serbian fans protesting against President Aleksandar Vučić were common, and players like Ezri Konsa were being targeted by green blinking lasers. In other areas, England still showed composure, while Tuchel complimented his players’ mentality, saying they did not shy away from the situation.
Number Dominance
England’s Dominance was highlighted in Belgrade.
England had 24 shots and Serbia had 3.
England had 12 shots on target and Serbia had 0.
England had 42 touches in the Serbia’s box compared to Serbia’s 4.
England had over 62 percent possession.
Pickford’s 7th consecutive clean sheet.
These are not mere numbers. Instead, they showcase England’s level of dominance away from home. For Tuchel, they justify his game model. For his players, they instill belief and for the fans, they give another reason to hope England are among the best.
Kane: The Relentless Leader
No report on this night is complete without the mention of Kane. The captain of England is again redefining consistency at the international stage. Scoring his 74th goal in 109 caps is nothing staggering. It puts him in the upper echelon of this game. In addition to the goals, his leadership was on display. He came deep to connect the play, pressed apoplectically, and motivated the younger players. Kane in Tuchel’s system is not only a scorer but a distributor as well.
For years now, the conversations of England’s over reliance on Kane is still in circulation, but in Belgrade, his part was different. While many took the spotlight, he still was the centerpiece, a testament of how in other places his competition is growing, but for him, he is irreplaceable in England’s attack.
The Road Ahead
The timely victory puts England three games away from World Cup Qualification and five points clear. The timing is working in England’s favor and the confidence is soaring. However, Tuchel will remind the players one result is not a single step to success. It is a matter of how consistent you are, which is vital.
With the Belgrade fixtures, England’s skill is going to be put to the test. Adversaries will alter their approach to beating Tuchel’s strategy. The workload imbalance as well as injuries and fatigue. It is David’s Turner with the line of order. He is responsible for smooth movement of rotation and continuity.
The key indicators are promising. England have now won eight matches in a row at a competitive level. They have enjoyed a fantastic defensive record. Their attack, now, which was once stifled, appears unchained. Most importantly, alongside the established superstars, a new generation of players, imbued with stardom, is coming through and forming a blend of youth and experience.
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