Gareth Southgate hails England's tactical progression vs Germany

Jack Rosser @JackRosser_11 November 2017

Gareth Southgate hailed England's desire to learn and improve on a tactical level after they impressed in a goalless draw against world champions Germany at Wembley Stadium.

In the Three Lions' first friendly after booking their place at Russia 2018, Southgate’s side showed a spark and flair rarely seen in qualifying as they dramatically stepped up the opposition to prepare for the World Cup.

Since taking the helm from Sam Allardyce, Southgate has experimented with his side’s shape, and, with a back three against the bigger sides, England have looked more assured than under previous stewardship.

In the build-up to Euro 2016, then-manager Roy Hodgson admitted that he was still unsure of his best side. However, in the time since Southgate took charge, the Three Lions appear to have come on leaps and bounds on a tactical front.

In Pictures | England vs Germany | 10/11

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While Southgate admits there is still plenty to do with more friendlies against world class opposition to come, he is beginning to get an idea of what he wants.

"Well I think against the better teams that we’ve played [we’ve progressed tactically] - in the qualification games tactically you’ve got very few questions to answer and you’ve got the same problem to solve,” he told Standard Sport.

"I haven’t liked us in a 4-2-3-1 [formation], our positional discipline with the ball has not been good.

"Tonight [against Germany] we had to be tactically right with and without the ball, that’s the nature of top games and I think the players are tackling those concepts on really well."

Whereas the stereotypes of the English game have always been hard work, passion and heart - factors usually questioned following recent tournament disappointments - Southgate wants his team to go beyond that and read the game before acting on impulse alone.

Their showing in the second-half against Joachim Low’s side, having rode their luck at the back during spells before the break, showed a tactical astuteness not usually associated with the Three Lions in recent years.

Southgate reiterated the need to be mentally fine-tuned when facing the best of the best, something he feels his young squad are picking up at quite a speed.

"They’re a bright group, they get it," he added.

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"But also, we’re asking them to not just play, but to think about what they’re doing all the time, where do they need to press how do they press not just blindly going, chasing about the field and playing with their heart.

"They’ve got to be a team that’s switched on, because against the very best if you get the pressing wrong then they’ll carve you apart - it happened a couple of times tonight.

"I think that’s one of the most pleasing things of working with this group over the period of time [I have].

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"They’re responding to that, I think they experience some of that with their clubs as well and today a very young team - I think in the end there were five debutants tonight - really took those things on board well."

Southgate and his squad will get another chance to put their tactical nous to the test when they welcome Neymar, Willian and the rest of the Brazil squad to Wembley on Tuesday evening for another World Cup warm-up.

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