In the latest clash in Group A of the UEFA Euro Qualifiers, England and Kosovo, both unbeaten before the game, were looking to fight for a place in the next round.
The hosts came in as clear favourites and were initially surprised by an early Kosovo goal but managed to record a solid comeback in the first half sealing the game in their favour.
Despite the goal differential, Kosovo produced some interesting football that lacked the consistency to create danger for 90 minutes. England, meanwhile, proved their offensive potential but left plenty of doubts defensively.
In this tactical analysis, we go deep into the tactics and considerations that marked the attractive 5-3 victory of England over Kosovo. The local team left very well positioned to win the group while Kosovo will be fighting for second spot in their group game against the Czech Republic.
Lineups
England started the game with a 4-3-3 with their wide men the main source of attack. Englands tactical positioning looked more like a 4-1-4-1 on several occasions, with Declan Rice as a sole defensive midfielder, a situation that was smartly exploited by Kosovo to create dangerous situations.
On the other side, Kosovo started with a 4-2-3-1 that also moved into a 4-1-4-1 or even a 3-4-2-1. Besar Halimi was constantly moving from his defensive midfielder position to a sweeper position between central defenders and even next to Bersant Celina as an offensive midfielder.
