The current English team is oozing with talents. They're like a Ferrari which never took off in this tournament. In the group matches they lacked the bite - still - qualified for the next round and at Gelsenkirchen, against, Slovakia, the engine of the Ferrari of Gareth Southgate was not heating up until he decided for a bold substitution.
During the high voltage Italia 90 quarterfinal between England and Cameroon at Naples on a hot and humid night - England coach Bobby Robson decided to take off defender Terry Butcher and play a midfielder in the form of Trevor Steven and switched back to a flat backline with a 4-4-2 formation instead of 5-3-2. Trevor brought life and England crawled back from 1-2 down to win by 3-2.
That substitution in the 74th minute by Bobby Robson was a masterstroke, but today's substitution by Southgate was ultra-gambling.
With England literally down and out - Southgate took off Phil Foden in the dying moments and brought on Ivan Toney, who was supposed to feature for Jamaica not so long ago.
Toney seemed to be the perfect driver for the Ferrari. The engines heated up. The smoke blew out from the silencer pipe. The car moved on fast.
The electronic board had gone up to show six additional minutes at the end of the 90, England trailing to Ivan Schranz’s goal for Slovakia midway through the first half and the obituaries were being written.
Marc Guehi flicked on a long Kyle Walker throw-in, five minutes of stoppage time showing, Bellingham had found the space in front of the penalty spot and he leapt into the overhead kick like Cristiano Ronaldo - there had to be a Real Madrid touch. It had to be!
At extra-time - Ivan Toney heading an Eberechi Eze shot across the six-yard box, there was Harry Kane to crash home with his head.
These are dramatic moments.
But before all the drama - England were below par. They had been sloppy at the centre of the park. The forwards could hardly strike on target. The backline never looked confident.
Slovakia digested a bitter experience.
A narrow escape for England who would require to lift their game in the upcoming match.
Note: Excerpts from the The Guardian
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
No comments:
Post a Comment