Beijing, 3 Nov (Xinhua) -- Every time the World Series is held, England's team is always overly "packaged" by its own media, but in the upcoming World Cup in Qatar, the "Three Lions" are regarded as the favorite to win the championship.
England's Kane (front) scored on penalties in the UEFA Nations League match against Germany on 26 September. Xinhua News Agency
Since winning their first World Cup title on home soil in 1966, England's World Cup journey has always had few highlights and many slots. In the 56 long years since, only two World Cup Final Fours, in 1990 and 2018, have given England fans a chance to masturbate. But over the past four years, England's waist has straightened.
After revisiting the final four of the 2018 World Cup, England finished third in the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 and went one step further at Euro 2020, reaching the final of the European Championship for the first time in its history and making its first appearance in the final of a major international tournament after winning the 1966 World Cup. Although they eventually lost to Italy on penalties at home Wembley Stadium, standing one step away from the title inevitably led England to see the World Cup in Qatar a year later as the best stage to "dream back to 1966".
England finished top of the group with eight wins and two draws in the European qualifiers for the World Cup, scoring 39 goals and conceding only three. The World Cup group was also drawn well, and Iran, the United States and Wales, three non-traditional strong teams, were in Group B, and the prospect of the group stage was smooth.
The highly anticipated England team, now like being between the top and the abyss, will see the mountains even further, and standing still or taking a step back will be considered a failure.
England coach Gareth Southgate on the sidelines of a World Cup match on October 12. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Matthew Yingpe)
Head coach Gareth Southgate may be considered England's weakest link in the title race. In 2016, Southgate took over the England team coach, because of his thin coaching resume, he was not favored by the outside world, until he led the team to the World Cup Final Four in 2018, he was considered a coach. In the final of the 2020 European Championship, Southgate hesitated to use his troops, replaced two young players in the final minute of extra time for a penalty shootout, and was criticized by the British media after losing the title. He is best criticized for being too cautious in tactics, lacking variety, and not being good at using technical players.
In fact, at present, in the English team, there is no shortage of skilled players in the midfield, Foden, Grealish, and Saka all have the breakthrough and possession ability of "tactical explosive point", but in the past few years, Southgate has failed to find a good way to improve the team's attack, and more relies on Kane to be the only fulcrum in the center position. In England's UEFA Nations League this summer, Southgate made some tactical attempts, but the result was very embarrassing, the "Three Lions" were finally relegated from the A league with a bad record of 3 draws and 3 defeats, and the 0-4 defeat to Hungary made Southgate on the cusp of class.
England's Foden (right) fights Germany's Gundogan during a UEFA Nations League match on September 26. Xinhua News Agency
In terms of employment, Southgate prefers to "eat the old book" and use the old subordinates of the previous World Cup and European Championships, but the reality is forcing the manager to make changes.
At the back, Kyle Walker had groin surgery; Midfielder Kay Phillips has suffered a long-lost shoulder injury and has played only one Premier League game this season. Whether the two will be able to qualify for the World Cup is still unknown, and even their injury status is difficult to guarantee. Injuries aside, Maguire and Raheem Sterling have been in poor form this season, with the former having been reduced to a substitute centre-back at the club as Manchester United captain, and the latter having done little up front since joining Chelsea this summer, scoring just one goal in the last 11 games. The above four are the absolute main players in Southgate's tactical system, and how to choose will determine the future of the English team.
Italy's Di Lorenzo (left) fights with England's Harry Maguire during a UEFA Nations League match on September 23. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Federico Tardito)
Whatever tactics the manager adopts, Kane is the "eye of the formation" of the English team. Compared to four years ago, Kane is more handy as a fulcrum in the center forward position. He has scored a total of 40 goals and provided 23 assists in the Premier League over the past two seasons.
This summer, England women's football lifted the European Women's Championship trophy for the first time in its history. Now, the pressure is on the side of the men in England.