England’s Victory Over Slovakia Fails to Convince Ahead of Quarterfinals

They are in. After ninety minutes of boredom and worries, The Three Lions made it to the quarterfinals. 

When England was (once again) expected to steamroll past their opponent, they struggled to find the breakthrough for long periods. Each game seems to be a step back; this match, up until the final minute, was England’s worst performance since the goalless draw against Slovenia. 

For what feels like the tenth time this tournament, the Three Lions have been dull, but their individual quality has seen them scrape through to the quarterfinals. Whether this will be enough to win the tournament is another question.

England Cannot Build From The Back

This is not the first time this piece will be a complaint and cry for help to England’s team. 

The Three Lions were empty and spiritless for ninety minutes. Gareth Southgate set up an unexpected backline, fielding Marc Guéhi with John Stones in the center, while Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier completed the duo.

Slovakia was not afraid to press, identifying the problem from the first minute: this is not a defence that can build up methodically from the back. Kyle Walker lacks self-initiative (unlike England’s other players in the position) and was often forced to pass back. The only “initiative” from the backline was Trippier’s, who would attempt to advance and cross, which everyone saw coming. This paragraph best encapsulates England’s problems. The players have quality, but the lack of initiative was glaring.

Everything England has been trying to do has been comically slow. It is almost laughable that players with so much skill are so risk-averse.

As if haunted by a ghost, the Three Lions refused to pass forward unless it was a 100% certainty the receiver would secure the ball. This not only hampered England but also made it easier for Slovakia to guard against potential attacks. 

Slovakia did not need to be precise or overcommit in their pressing; the marker just needed to be close enough to its English counterpart.

It All Starts with the Goalkeeper

Part of why England was so sluggish can be attributed to Jordan Pickford’s distribution. I don’t know if hoofing it long, a hundred times every game, can be called distribution. Nevertheless, this has been Pickford’s modus operandi throughout the tournament, and it has repeatedly hampered England’s chances.

There were countless situations where England would have benefited from a short pass from Pickford, allowing the team to build methodically from the back. Instead, Everton’s goalkeeper kept sending it long, either gifting Slovakia free possession or, on occasion, launching it out of play, conceding set-piece opportunities.

This approach probably highlights England’s self-inflicted wounds. England refused to take the easy route and instead chose to struggle. Most teams would play it out from the back in that case, but England didn’t.

The performance mirrored their previous games. This match also marked England’s first victory since the opener against Serbia (1-0), which was the most eventful England had witnessed in the tournament. 

The game was uneventfulup until the last minutes, as the referee added +6 to his clock. 

At 90+5, when all seemed lost, Jude Bellingham produced a moment of magic with a bicycle kick that left everyone’s mouths agape. He had done it again, just like England’s first goal against Serbia, during the only fifteen minutes of good football they played.

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A Change of Spirits With Some Heroes

Harry Kane doubled the score a minute later, and the rest of the extra time was as forgettable as the rest of the performance. England scraped through, and that is the story.

The leader of the narrative was Slovakia, particularly under the wing of deep-lying playmaker Lobotka, who was the standout performer of the game and arguably the tournament. Napoli’s midfielder had already caught the eye during Slovakia’s victory over Belgium (1-0). They had a great campaign by all means, qualifying with four points and proving to be more solid than many had anticipated.

Against England, Slovakia not only showed courage but led the game. Breaking England’s block was too easy, as Lobotka often found short circuits between England’s defensive lines or preferred to switch play long, especially through Ivan Schranz. 

On the right wing, Schranz was frequently left unmarked, allowing him to force 1v1 situations that often led to crosses into the box or cutbacks. England often forgot to guard him, and he was the player who opened the scoring in the 25th minute.

Among Slovakia’s players who have enhanced their value and could be transfer targets this summer, Ivan Schranz stands out. The right-winger often rotated behind his marker, creating a 3v2 overload in the wide zones of the right-wing, tucking in while his full-back joined the attack. 

England struggled to cope with this, as Slovakia showcased their athleticism and the silky skills of their players, demonstrating to England what one-touch football is all about.

The Aftermath

Slovakia finds itself in a similar position to Georgia: a loser on the scoreline but a winner in the memories. Watching Slovakia play against England was like night and day compared to the Three Lions. Slovakia knew what it was doing, executing most of their attacks with precision and composure, aside from the lack of finishing.

England, on the other hand, appeared fearful, timid, and indecisive. Despite their early exit, Francesco Calzona and the Slovaks can hold their heads high, having made a lasting impression despite the odds.

The Turnaround?

As terrible as this performance was, it could be a turning point. England usually leads or draws; they rarely find themselves trailing behind. Jude Bellingham, who also had a subpar match, proved to be the hero of the night, daring to attempt what others wouldn’t.

This could provide the Three Lions with the confidence that Southgate claims they lack, repeatedly citing the pressure of being favorites as a reason for their lack of courage throughout the tournament.

England will face Switzerland in the quarterfinals, a team that rotated around Italy and eliminated the EURO 2020 champions. England has been warned – they cannot afford to play as they have been. This could be Southgate’s last warning, as he has yet to field a performance that satisfies on his end.