A tactical analysis of Gareth Southgate’s England team

Dubbed the ‘impossible job’, managing England has always been one of the trickiest gigs in football. That’s something that Gareth Southgate can attest to.

The England gaffer has led the nation to some of their greatest moments at major tournaments, even reaching the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020 several years later, but that has not made him immune to criticism.

With one of the most talented England squads ever seen at his disposal, there are those suggesting that the Three Lions should be doing even better on the big stage. For many, Southgate’s tactics have wasted a golden generation of attacking talent.

Here is a closer look at England’s tactical setup under Southgate.

Having now spent almost eight years in the England dugout, Southgate has employed a variety of formations during his reign. However, the one that has brought most joy has been a variation of a 4-2-3-1, sometimes capable of becoming a 4-3-3.

This setup sees a flat back four with two sitting midfielders in front of the centre-halves. One of those will act as a traditional number six, breaking up play and recycling possession, while the other will perform in a more advanced position without straying too far forward.

Ahead of the holding midfielders there will be a number ten, a playmaker able of playing off the centre-forward. However, they will be expected to make runs beyond the striker, with England skipper Harry Kane – the guaranteed starter up top – often dropping into deeper positions.

Southgate doesn’t want his wide players to play too centrally, but they wiill be given the freedom to drift into an inside forward position when required. In the likes of Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden, England have players who can be lethal in these positions. Flexibility across the front line means that the attacking midfielder can rotate with the wingers.

As mentioned, England play with an orthodox back four out of possession, operating in a mid-block. The two holding midfielders will drop deep to screen the back four, while the attacking midfielder will also have to track back, keeping close tabs on the opposition’s playmakers.

The general idea, while not revolutionary, is to make the pitch as narrow as possible, congesting central areas and forcing the ball into wider positions. On the flanks, Southgate tends to opt for more traditional…