Gary Neville says England midfield balance is Gareth Southgate’s “major concern” at Euro 2024.
England sit top of Group C after beating Serbia 1-0 in their opening match of the tournament thanks to Jude Bellingham’s early header.
England controlled the first half but lost their way in the second, raising more questions about how Southgate can get the best out of his team.
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Rob Dorsett looks at the positives and negatives of England’s opening Euro 2024 win over Serbia.
“The midfield is the major concern and the resulting fluidity of the game is something we need to try to work on in the group stage because when we play against a good team we will have to get it right,” said Aerial sports Neville.
“There are a few little alarm bells about balance and having a good group of very talented players, but are we as good a team?
Jude Bellingham celebrates his goal with teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold
“Last night we started to think about the impact and influence of Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips. Sometimes the best players don’t make the best team.
“We are aware that Kieran Trippier is right-footed at left-back and plays there because of all the injuries in that position, which creates an extra imbalance. But in midfield we have to somehow ‘another trying to get it right Gareth (Southgate) will be more than aware of that.
“Having that partner alongside Declan Rice is important because I don’t think he is at his best when he is covering other players. Mikel Arteta discovered him at Arsenal and understood that it was better to be able to move forward .Jorginho or (Thomas) Partey arrived at the end of the season.
“There’s no doubt we’re undercooked, the players haven’t played for a few weeks and it might be the first time this team has played together, I think they’ll improve. “
Trent Alexander-Arnold formed a midfield three alongside Declan Rice and Bellingham. He showed flashes of his passing range and helped defensively, but made an error deep in England’s half that gave Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic a chance.
“We know Alexander-Arnold can do it when he moves from right back to midfield and can then deliver crosses and passes. There were times when he found himself with his back to the play and that’s another story,” Neville said.
“I don’t really want to focus on him being a problem in there. It was the balance of the whole midfield and I also include Declan Rice – and what England have needed to advance this tournament.
“All eyes will be on Trent Alexander-Arnold. His best position is right back and his ability to get forward on that side, or get inside and play that quarterback role. He doesn’t look like we’re going to do that, it looks like we’re going to stick with Kyle Walker, which is absolutely the right decision.
“Gareth will know he has a problem with these talented players and how he will fit them all into the team – and most importantly with the right balance.”
Neville believes the answer could be for Southgate to stay with his current team.
“An imbalance may have been created last night, not because of bad personnel. It could be that they just didn’t play together enough. That may be the case when this team plays together for three games of the group,” he said.
“Sometimes we think Phil Foden hasn’t worked on the left, Trent hasn’t worked in midfield, let’s take them out and put two more in. The way Gareth does it is maybe they s get along and play them together because that’s what he believes in and he has three games under his belt. Throwing out the baby with the bathwater might not be the right thing to do here. .
“Gareth has a lot of experience managing football tournaments. It might be the opposite of what we all think, which is to have someone else alongside Declan Rice, they might need to play a little more together.”
