The Yorkshire Post's chief football writer, Stuart Rayner, assesses the performances of England during the group stage at Euro 2024 and where and how they need to improve going into the last 16 ...
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00:00Well, just looking at the group stage, how do you rate England's performances overall?
00:11As I say, there's been a lot of criticism, doesn't seem to have been particularly inspiring
00:17in many ways, but what's your take on it?
00:19Well, it hasn't been very inspiring in many ways.
00:22You know, you look at the stodgy way England have played and you compare that to Spain
00:28who've gone off like a train and look like the best team in the tournament.
00:32And, you know, if you just looked at it in isolation, you'd be very worried.
00:37But, you know, the teams that start like a house on fire aren't always, in fact, often aren't the ones that win it.
00:44I mean, Argentina lost their first game in the World Cup just gone 18 months ago.
00:50So it does show you that it can be deceptive.
00:53But certainly England's performances need to improve.
00:58They've been good defensively, although in fairness, they've played against three teams who have sort of got into the game with a damage limitation mindset.
01:08But nevertheless, I think Mark Gay's been a real bonus.
01:11I think once Harry Maguire was ruled out of the tournament, sorry, not selected for the tournament,
01:18there was a bit of doubt about how John Stone's partner would, you know, take to their first tournament,
01:25whoever that was going to be, and Gay's responded really well.
01:28But going forward, there's been a real lack of balance down the left-hand side.
01:34Playing Phil Foden on the left is manageable in and of itself,
01:39but his tendency to drift off the line means if you've then got a right-footed left back, you don't have any width on that side.
01:48The fact that Harry McCain and Jude Bellingham both like to drop into the inside left pocket as well,
01:55that's getting a bit cluttered.
01:56McCain's form hasn't been great, but it's worth remembering the last two tournaments, he didn't score in the group stage either.
02:03It was only in the knockouts when he got into his rhythm and started to become the player that we know.
02:09And Jude Bellingham's performances have been slightly worrying as well.
02:13They've been a bit lethargic, which isn't surprising when you consider how much football and how much onus there's been on him with Real Madrid this season.
02:20But nevertheless, when you've got one of the best players in Europe playing such a key role in your team,
02:27you don't expect the level of performance there's been.
02:30So, it has been concerning in an attacking sense and in a balanced sense.
02:37But there were positives to be had from the final group game,
02:40and the hope has got to be that England can reset, re-energise and be a different team in the knockouts.
02:47How does Gareth Southgate achieve that?
02:50Well, I think there were a lot of clues there for him in the nil-nil draw with Slovenia.
02:56I'd said before that game in the Yorkshire Post that I felt that it needed Maino, Palmer and Gordon to come into the starting 11 for that game.
03:05None of them did, but they all came off the bench and added a lot of much-needed urgency.
03:12Maino's a central midfielder who looks to pass the ball forward and then follow his pass.
03:19And just that extra energy, that extra impetus he brought to the midfield was a big improvement on Trent Alexander-Arnold trying to spray passes from long distance.
03:32And Conor Gallacher, who gets around the park well, wins the ball well, but not so great in possession.
03:37So, Maino was a big bonus and I would be very disappointed if he doesn't start all of the knockout games,
03:44however many there are, that England play, because he does look on another level to the midfielders.
03:51Likewise, I remember writing before the Bosnia game that Cole Palmer was really starting to force his way into consideration for the 11.
04:01It was just a matter of finding out, finding where to put him, really.
04:05And his performance from the right for the last 20 minutes or so against Slovenia makes you think that he should be in the side and that's where he should be in the side.
04:15You know, he looks to take players on, which is something England haven't had enough of in these games.
04:20Anthony Gordon's the same on the other side.
04:23Plus, he has the advantage, he gives you that width that Foden doesn't.
04:28So certainly I'd be looking to Palmer.
04:30I think in the case of Gordon, I would probably hold off on that just for now.
04:36It was only a couple of minutes he came off the bench, his only minutes in the tournament, so you can't read too much into it.
04:44And it's England out at the stage where they need to rip everything up and start again.
04:49But certainly Foden and Bellingham will be under pressure to start living up to their reputations and their ability.
04:57And it's nice to know that, you know, you've got someone like Gordon and Eze and others on the bench who can come on and make a difference.