England ratings and analysis: Questions for Gareth Southgate after Jekyll and Hyde display
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Updated 02/06/2018 at 20:37 GMT
Tom Adams was at Wembley for the quintessential game of two halves as England hosted Nigeria in their penultimate World Cup warm-up.
Ashley Young of England speaks to Gareth Southgate Manager of England as he is subbed off during the International Friendly match between England and Nigeria at Wembley Stadium.
Image credit: Eurosport
England showed they are still very much a work in progress under Gareth Southgate as a blistering first half gave way to a flat second in a 2-1 home win over Nigeria.
Goals from Gary Cahill and Harry Kane had England firmly in control at the break, 2-0 up in front and playing some fluid, perceptive football. But a half-time switch from Nigeria confounded the home side and, inspired by Alex Iwobi, scorer of the Nigerian reply, they fought their way back into the game.
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Gareth Southgate looks on at Wembley.
Image credit: Eurosport
The fruits of Southgate’s progressive approach were clear in the opening 45 minutes, but it was a concern that he seemingly had no reply to the tactical manoeuvrings of his 64-year-old counterpart, Gernot Rohr.
So who impressed and who disappointed at Wembley – and what was Southgate’s role in all of this?
THE FORMATION
England lined up in the 3-5-2 that Southgate established in the March friendlies against Netherlands and Italy, with Eric Dier being flanked by Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli in a midfield three. In practice, though, the formation was a fluid one as both Alli and Lingard had licence to join the attack at will and support the front two of Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, making it a front three on occasion. The shape stayed the same as Southgate made a raft of changes.
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An England fan holds up a Harry Kane inspired sign prior to the International Friendly match between England and Nigeria at Wembley Stadium on June 2, 2018 in London, England.
Image credit: Eurosport
THE VERDICT ON SOUTHGATE
The first half was a vindication of the work Southgate has been doing with England as they cast some pretty passing patterns across the Wembley turf. The only thing missing from recent displays had been goals and when Cahill and Kane supplied two before the break, it looked as though England were addressing that particular concern in a big way.
But Rohr took the initiative at half-time, making four substitutions as he switched Nigeria to a back three to mirror England, negating the influence of the two wing-backs. Nigeria lost the game, but they won the second half as England’s rhythm deserted them. Southgate was given a bit of a lesson by the veteran in the opposite dugout. They were also opened up too easily for the goal.
PLAYER RATINGS
Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford – 6
Could have done better with Iwobi’s goal even if it was hardly the easiest of saves. Didn’t get much of a chance to show off his passing skills from the back in the first half as England dominated.
Right wing-back: Kieran Tripper – 7
He has benefitted from Walker’s move into a central area and was instrumental in England’s first-half dominance as he stretched play and proved a constant threat from set pieces. A free-kick was batted wide by the keeper and it was his corner which found Cahill for the opening goal.
Centre-back: Kyle Walker – 6
Has held down a surprise central role ever since moving inside for the March friendlies against Netherlands and Italy. Looked a bit caught out for the opening goal as he didn’t get close enough to Ighalo, whose shot cannoned off the post and back to Iwobi.
Centre-back: Gary Cahill – 7
Only a late-season resurgence with Chelsea got Cahill a place in the England squad but he started ahead of Harry Maguire. Scored with a booming header but may have felt he could have done more to stop Iwobi scoring.
Centre-back: John Stones – 5
Stones always plays slightly on the edge and he showed the rustiness which comes from spending most of the second half of the season on the bench with a loose pass to give away the ball on 26 minutes.
Left wing-back: Ashley Young – 6
Showed why he has moved ahead of Danny Rose in Southgate’s plans with a purposeful display. Nigeria didn’t see much joy down their right flank in the first half and Young was keen to join the attack, linking up well with Sterling and Alli in the final third. His performance levels dipped as Nigeria fought back and he made way for Rose.
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Harry Kane of England shows appreciation to the fans after the International Friendly match between England and Nigeria at Wembley Stadium on June 2, 2018 in London, England.
Image credit: Eurosport
Holding midfielder: Eric Dier – 5
Looked uncertain at first as he struggled to impose himself on the game. Dier played a role in the second goal with a neat shimmy in midfield but he will be fearing for his place with Jordan Henderson back in contention.
Midfielder: Jesse Lingard – 8
Showed exactly why he has become such a favourite of Southgate – commanding a place in one of the two attacking midfield positions since the March friendlies. Lingard worked tirelessly in hounding Nigeria when out of possession; his movement was sublime; and with the ball at his feet he was a constant danger. Was unlucky not to score on 28 minutes when he ghosted in to the near post and saw a nuanced finish saved.
Midfielder: Dele Alli – 7
This was a huge occasion for Alli after being dropped for the March games and he rose to the challenge. The Spurs star was full of nice touches, even while being booed by the fans of Nigeria, whom he qualified for through his father. He popped up in the same area as Sterling on numerous occasions – to the left of the penalty area – but they combined effectively.
Forward: Raheem Sterling - 6
All eyes were on the City forward after his week in the tabloid spotlight – through no fault of his own, really. He played off Kane very nicely and almost scored on 13 minutes when turning his man superbly and dinking a shot just wide. There were some loose touches though and Sterling blew hot and cold at Wembley. A deserved booking for diving will attract more headlines and his performance waned badly.
Forward: Harry Kane – 8
Sublime in the first half. Scored his eighth goal in seven games for England with the assistance of a big goalkeeping mistake but the prime feature of this performance was his supreme distribution. Kane sprayed the ball about exuberantly, often with the outside of the boot, in one of those displays which shows he can be almost as effective a No. 10 as a No. 9.
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John Obi Mikel of Nigeria (R) and Harry Kane of England in action during the International Friendly match between England and Nigeria at Wembley Stadium on June 2, 2018 in London, England.
Image credit: Eurosport
SUBS:
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (on for Lingard, 67) – 6
Brought on as Southgate sought to re-establish some control in midfield. Got into the box on occasions but his final pass was lacking.
Danny Rose (on for Young, 67) – 6
Made no appreciable difference to the game.
Danny Welbeck (on for Kane, 73) – No rating
Struggled to make an impact on the match.
Marcus Rashford (on for Sterling, 73) – No rating
Belted a low shot just wide on 80 minutes, but offered little else.
Fabian Delph (on for Alli, 81) – No rating
Barely had any time to impress.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
England play Costa Rica in their final pre-World Cup friendly on June 7. Henderson should come in for Dier and Maguire warrants a start too, possibly in place of Stones in the back three. Otherwise it is hard to see Southgate making too many changes as he hopes to replicate that effervescent first half.
Tom Adams@tomEurosport
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