3 things we learned about England after drab Denmark draw

Euro 2024 watchers were treated to an exhibition on Thursday night.

Wondrous collective cohesion combined with technical mastery and electricity down the flanks to produce one of the standout performances of the tournament thus far. They were far too good for a top-ranked opponent, one they faced in the semi-finals at Euro 2020.

If only we were talking about England.

Enjoying Spain having endured the Three Lions was the treat we all deserved. Luis de la Fuente’s side served as the ‘what you could’ve been…’ for English supporters.

While Spain dazzled in a 1-0 victory over Italy which should’ve been more emphatic, England escaped their second group game elated with a point. If their display in Gelsenkirchen drew concerns, their showing in Frankfurt required a post-mortem.

They may be top of Group C and on the brink of qualification, but the positive energy and momentum which defined previous tournaments under Gareth Southgate is nowhere to be seen. Here are three things we learned from England’s 1-1 draw against Denmark.

England are doing a lot wrong, but key to their woes thus far has been a woeful, disengaged ‘press’.

Southgate has shown an ability, especially outside of tournaments, to coach a press similar to those seen every week at club level with the wingers pinching inside and full-backs arriving in advanced positions to stifle progression in wide areas. There’s previously been more man-to-man than the conservative zonal nonsense we’ve seen in Germany thus far.

Against Denmark, England‘s efforts without the ball were led by a beleaguered Harry Kane. Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka were once again tasked with blocking space in wide areas – they did so with little success as the Danes constantly accessed their wing-backs.

Jude Bellingham was overloaded centrally, with the pivot midfielders very rarely jumping to contribute higher up. The one time Declan Rice was aggressive, the Arsenal midfielder won back possession and almost created an opening.

Instead, the two midfielders were more concerned with Denmark’s runners from midfield and thus sunk deeper and deeper. They were on top of their defence at times, with gaping voids being left in the middle of the park,

There were a lot of issues out of possession which led to Kasper Hjulmand’s side enjoying more of the contest than they should’ve done. England’s issues are structural. Kane’s apparent weariness isn’t the primary problem….