The inquiry continues after England’s poor performance in the 1-1 draw with Denmark, on Thursday, at Euro 2024.
BBC Sport experts Wayne Rooney, Cesc Fabregas and Alan Shearer joined Gary Lineker to further dissect the Three Lions’ performance.
Here’s how they think Gareth Southgate’s team could improve – and you can watch the full 18-minute chat on BBC iPlayer here.
The tactics: ‘I don’t think there’s a plan’
England looked tactically inferior against Denmark and had fewer shots, shots on goal and touches in the opponent’s box. The Three Lions were also criticized for their negative approach and lack of pressure…
Rooney: “I think it was a weak performance, there was no energy or balance in the team.
“I’m putting that into the players too. If Harry Kane says he didn’t know what to do after the game [that’s a problem]. The players have to take responsibility.”
Fábregas: “I’m still trying to understand what they want to do in each game.
“Spain has a clear plan, it is aggressive. It may go right or wrong, but at least you see clearly what they want to do.
“England varies a lot, I want to see more confidence when they move forward.
“I don’t think Harry has the legs to press high anymore. You can see the others – Bellingham, Saka, Rice – press very high, but one person who doesn’t do that can kill the function of the whole game.”
Clipper: “We have world-class players, it’s the coach’s job to get the best out of these players.
“For 35 minutes in the first game we saw this. Second half of the first game, no chance. And in yesterday’s game we were terrible.
“I don’t think there’s a plan. There’s a total lack of energy, I don’t know if anyone knows whether to come or sit down.”
The players: ‘Trent’s experiment didn’t work’
Trent Alexander-Arnold has not been a conventional choice in midfield this tournament and so far, it doesn’t seem to have paid off. But who should enter?…
Rooney: “When the squad was announced I wondered where to put Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in the same team, and I think that was evident.
“For me [Southgate] should play Bellingham a little deeper and give Foden freedom.
“I would really like to see Anthony Gordon there. I love Trent Alexander-Arnold as a player, but in midfield there are better options.
Clipper: “Gareth is meticulous in everything he does. I was really surprised by his words after the game [Kalvin] Phillips.
“I don’t agree with that. Adam Wharton came into the picture. Kobbie Mainoo has been that option.
“He experimented with Trent and it didn’t work. That has to change in the next game.”
The coach: ‘The players seem confused… this is coming from the coach’
While Rooney believes the players have to take responsibility, Shearer says the way they have played “comes from the manager”. Can he now make the necessary changes?…
Clipper: “They seem confused to me as players about when and how to go and when they want to put pressure on the opponent.
“That, for me, comes from the coach. In the first two games and certainly in the last, it was too easy for the opponent.”
Fábregas: “Each team has a game plan. If you’re telling me the attacker doesn’t know what to do, that’s a problem.
Rooney: “I think with Gareth and Steve Holland I’m sure they’re working on a game plan.
“Gareth now has the chance to reassess, I hope he makes some changes to get us back in front.”
The build-up: ‘Southgate may regret it’ comments
England’s defeat to Iceland in the final warm-up game before Euro 2024 set alarm bells ringing for many – and those concerns have yet to be allayed. Southgate’s own admission, after the defeat to Denmark, that using Alexander-Arnold in midfield was an “experiment” didn’t help…
Fábregas: “The most successful coaches go into detail. What you saw yesterday with Denmark, you saw a real team. I see a team that is ready to face every game. You saw a game plan.
“If you don’t get into the details, nowadays everyone is so good and ready that it’s a very fine line.
“If it’s well planned and you have the principles, you can do it. But there’s obviously something wrong.”
Rooney: “You can’t go into a big tournament and say you’re experimenting. That’s a strong word to say.
“If England don’t go far in this competition, [Southgate] You may regret this.”
Lack of experience: ‘You need voices… I would have taken Henderson’
Despite a difficult season that started in the Saudi Pro League and ended at Ajax, Jordan Henderson was a surprise omission from the squad, having featured heavily during Southgate’s tenure. Has England lost its experience?…
Rooney: “The team lacks experience and voices, you need voices behind it. I would have taken Jordan Henderson, he is a voice.
“The lack of experience among young players, especially when you score a goal, you panic.”
Clipper: “Even in the first game, when we automatically scored the first goal, we retreated. We didn’t play very well the other day, but when we scored exactly the same thing happened.”
