Harry Kane struggles and Trent Alexander-Arnold experiment fails as Denmark draw shows England's problems

What's Causing England's Deep Drop?

The outcome was not the same, but there were clear similarities to the Serbia match. Just like before, the team started off strong and scored an early goal. However, they then lost control of the game and began retreating further back into their own half.

This habit of inviting pressure is nothing new. It has been a noticeable trait of Gareth Southgate's time in charge. However, it usually happens in games against top teams in knockout stages, not in group matches against teams ranked outside the top 20 in FIFA.

It is surprising that a team with such talented players, who are considered top contenders to win the tournament, are now performing like they are the weaker team in matches like these. This was evident in their games against Serbia and Denmark.

Naturally, it must be noted that these matches are not simple. Competition in football can be harsh. The recent game against Denmark was another example of England causing their own difficulties by allowing the opposing team to put pressure on them. This resulted in Denmark scoring a goal and the situation could have escalated.

The numbers were concerning. Denmark, not only took more shots than England, also had a slightly higher number of passes and possession of the ball. However, it is important to note the differences in where each team had the ball. Denmark had 22 touches inside the opponent's box compared to England's 11. They also completed 142 passes in the attacking third, while England only managed 97.

England has the right players to play in an advanced position. Kyle Walker and the impressive Marc Guehi are fast defenders who can cover for a high defensive line. They also have attackers who are used to playing in a similar style for their respective clubs.

Why does the same problem keep coming back again and again? It's understandable to be practical during a tournament, but England is creating problems for themselves that they don't need to.

Analyzing England's Defensive Strategy

The image below perfectly illustrates the situation: nearly every player on the field stayed back in their own defensive area while they maintained their one-goal lead for 16 minutes.

The image below shows how England started to play more defensively, showing the increase in passes made in the final third during the game. The Danish team took control of the game, making the most passes in this area before scoring the equalizer in the 34th minute.

In the match against Serbia, Southgate's team began the game with complete control, but gradually lost that dominance after Jude Bellingham scored the first goal. The Serbs then became the more threatening team in attack during the second half.

Moreover, England is utilizing a deeper defensive strategy compared to past tournaments. During the World Cup in 2022, four outfield players were found on average in their own half, which increased to six during Euro 2024. The forwards, particularly Harry Kane and Phil Foden, are also dropping back further on the field.

Trent's Midfield Experiment Concludes

Never before has a group of midfielders with such impressive skills appeared to be so uncoordinated.

It's not surprising that this is only the third time that Declan Rice, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Jude Bellingham have started a game together in central positions. This happened after a 1-0 Nations League loss to Hungary in June 2022 and the opening game against Serbia on Sunday.

Southgate's insistence on including Alexander-Arnold in his starting team makes sense because he has some great skills. However, is it a good idea to experiment with a different midfield setup during a big tournament? Based on what we've seen so far, the answer is a resounding no.

In the recent match against Serbia, Rice, although talented, was overwhelmed at times. The spaces between him and Alexander-Arnold and Bellingham were too wide, leading to difficulties. Eventually, Rice was substituted for Conor Gallagher just nine minutes into the second half.

Gallagher may not have the same passing skills and vision as Alexander-Arnold, but he did bring a lot of energy and stability to the team when playing alongside Rice. He probably thinks he has a good chance of starting in the match against Slovenia. However, England's midfield still has a lot of improvements to make.

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Kane Isolated Despite Scoring

Harry Kane scored a goal from close range after Kyle Walker's pass was deflected. This achievement made him one of only three players to score for England in four different major tournaments, joining the likes of Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney. However, it was a challenging afternoon for Kane.

Compared to his performance against Serbia, he struggled to make an impact in the game. When he did manage to get possession of the ball, it was often because he had to drop back into positions that didn't benefit the team. This was evident when he made a poorly placed pass from the left-back position that resulted in Denmark scoring a goal.

However, the issue arose when he didn't come back to help his teammates, leaving him alone further up the field with no support from England's defenders or midfielders. This made it difficult for him to be an effective option for his team.

Southgate must think about the lack of support as he gets his team ready to play against Slovenia. Additionally, there are uncertainties surrounding Kane's performance without the ball.

He appears exhausted after a lengthy season playing for Bayern Munich, which concluded with a back injury. Even when well-rested, his ability to press is not his strong suit. Ollie Watkins, who substituted for him in the second half, brought more energy to England's game. Kane's position on the team is now being questioned.

"Bellingham Displays Fatigue"

Kane was one of several England players who appeared unusually tired against Denmark. However, Bellingham's low energy levels compared to the Serbia match were even more noticeable.

The 20-year-old seemed to dismiss any concerns of exhaustion with his impressive performance on Sunday, but things changed in this game. There were some moments of his exceptional talent, such as a precise through-ball to set up Watkins towards the end, but not many additional highlights.

He was really tired towards the end of the game. When he received a bad pass from Kyle Walker and couldn't catch up to the opponent, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who then took a shot that went just wide.

It's not shocking that he's feeling exhausted after a fantastic debut season at Real Madrid, culminating in their Champions League victory on June 1st. However, because of his crucial role, it will be challenging to give him a break until England's tournament comes to an end.

Foden Improves, Left Side Still Blunt

Phil Foden had a stronger performance this time around compared to his previous game against Serbia, where he put in a lot of effort but didn't see much success. It was noticeable that his top moments, like a smooth dribble through the midfield and multiple goal attempts, happened when he was in the middle of the field.

The 24-year-old player was clearly instructed to move towards the center of the field, but England still has a problem with their left side. Since the right-footed Kieran Trippier is playing as a temporary left-back, Southgate's team lacks attacking danger on that side.

The imbalance is not a problem when England's right side performs well, like in Bellingham's goal against Serbia assisted by Bukayo Saka, and Kane's goal against Denmark assisted by Walker. However, depending too much on one side is not a long-term solution.

Luke Shaw is a significant absence. Southgate suggested that the 28-year-old, the sole left-back in the team, might not be able to recover from his injury in time to play in the group stage.

There is concern that even if he is considered ready, he hasn't played in a competitive match since February. Putting him in the team for the important matches could be risky. The big question is if England really needs him to take that chance.

The way England has been playing has made people worried about many players, but the overall team issues are possibly even more troubling. The team's struggle to create scoring opportunities has been very noticeable.

In the Serbia game, Southgate's team only managed to create a small amount of 0.52 expected goals, showing that they didn't create many good chances. Against Denmark, they only slightly improved with 0.85 expected goals, but the Danes were still in control of the game.

This problem is connected to how far they go down. If you want to score against the other team, you need to be close to their goal. However, even when England does get close to scoring opportunities, they are having difficulty capitalizing on them.

The Knockouts Are Calling

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England fans are optimistic that in the end, the current situation won't affect the team's chances. Southgate's squad has earned four points out of a possible six. They are on track to advance to the next round, even though their performance has been lacking. Perhaps they will start to perform better after this slow start.

After only playing two games in a tournament where they were expected to do well, there are some big concerns. They have a lot of work to do to meet everyone's expectations, and there are more issues popping up that they need to address.