England’s effective use of half space and set pieces guides them with a narrow 2–1 win over Tunisia
England’s pre tournament positivity would always come along with undesired hype, best players in the world, best league in the world…etc. This time it was different, Gareth Southgate managed to handle the aura around the team in a way that would not affect them negatively, and also keep their heads high enough to breathe. However, on the field they were yet to be tested, and at the Volgograd Arena they faced a Tunisian side which were dreaming of continuing the underdog story, a theme that is slowly spreading through this World Cup.
England started with their predicted formation with no surprises, on the other side Tunisia set up in a 4–3–3 which would eventually turn into a 4–5–1 with Khazri as the lone player up front. England’s pressing early on managed to create half chances for the three lions as their offensive quartet pressed collectively to force the Eagles into mistakes or releasing long balls forward, which either Maguire or Walker acquired easily to rebuild as there was no pressure on them. This resulted in England controlling the game, and having the ability to build up through the back three and Henderson, who was surprisingly not pressed, with Khazri choosing to stick with the ball provider rather than Henderson. England’s open play progression was through the channels albeit in two different ways, firstly Sterling and Kane would drop to open a vertical option for the ball carrier and then link up with the player occupying the channel, the other option would be Alli or Lingard running in the channel between the center back and full back to provide a goal threatening option, England’s major chances in the first half were a consequence of the above as shown in all of Lingard’s chances, first one Henderson found Alli in the right channel, second chance Kane dropping to open a passing option for Trippier then providing Young the ball, whose cross found Lingard. The third one was a long ball from Trippier into Lingard who had a huge amount of space to run into, as Kane moved into the space on the right wing.
The rest of England’s chances came through set pieces, with no specialist within the team it was always a question of who would take them, the main suspects were Trippier and Young as Michael Cox pointed out their selection might be due to their effective crossing . Corners were out-swingers which were headed brilliantly as seen in Maguire’s header early on in the half, or set up as a second ball. Free kicks were mostly long balls towards Maguire on the far corner to be headed inside the area for the second ball, or in-swingers waiting for a run in header. It was no surprise that England’s first goal came as a result of an out swinger corner which was a result of Kane dropping into the inside left channel to open a passing lane for Maguire, then combining with Sterling before his shot was deflected off a defender. Throughout England’s chances Tunisia managed to level the game through a penalty from Ferjani Sassi, with chances missing and getting back to square one, most of the England fans knew what was coming as they have been experiencing it throughout the last couple of tournaments.
Second half, the Tunisian manager Nabil Maaloul identified the issue and switched to a 5–3–2, with Fakhreddine operating as a right wing back, and Sliti just behind Khazri. This affected England’s build up heavily as Sliti man marked Henderson, the usual outlet for England was now out of service, alongside the flooding of the half space from Tunisian players, England only had the wings to progress, and with Young on the left side rather than Rose most of the play had to be channeled through Trippier. Gareth Southgate side kept huffing and puffing until he brought on Rashford and Ruben Loftus-Cheek who affected the game heavily as they bypassed defenders using their trickery and ease of combination in small spaces. As the time kept ticking, and the game getting near the end, it felt like same old England, but as late goals are a trend in this World Cup, the game wasn’t over. An England out swinger corner fell on Maguire’s head who set up the free Harry Kane at the far post to slot it home.
England’s impressive first half and usage of set pieces helped them bypass their first test, but they will face stronger opponents as they proceed through the tournament. Meanwhile, that maybe all she wrote for Tunisia as they face the star studded Belgium next.
