FIFA World Cup 2018: How England can beat Sweden

Before the World Cup began, the majority of England fans would have seen the quarter-final stages as a minimum achievement for a successful campaign. However most would not have expected Sweden to be their nation’s quarter-final opponents and consequently the Three Lions now find themselves as favourites to reach what would be only their third ever World Cup semi-final. We take a look at the strengths that have gotten England this far and what they will need to overcome their fortitudinous Scandinavian opponents in the last 8.

Style of play

For many years England have had an incredible array of talent at their disposal but have flattered to deceive with their performances time and time again. There have been many debates as to why that’s been the case but what has been evident is that England teams have lacked a distinct style of play. Spain have their ‘Tiki-Taka’, the Brazilian’s have their ‘Joga Bonito’ and the Dutch have had their ‘Total Football’ to name a few but what comparable philosophies are the English known for? Whether he was mandated to or not, current manager Gareth Southgate has set his sights on rectifying the lack of a successful identity in the England national team and so far has arguably produced the most watchable England side of the last two decades.

It didn’t take long after Southgate’s appointment to see an obvious change in the team’s setup. The new boss setup his side in a 3-5-2, a shape that gives his side a solid base around 3 central defenders while utilising excellent wing-back options who can dominate the flanks. The formation keeps a three-man central midfield with one player sitting deep, screening the defence and the other two playing further up as attacking midfielders. Two strikers play up top, typically with one dropping into space in the midfield to help create overloads or open space in behind the opposition’s defence.

The identity of Southgates side is based around the principle of keeping possession. Southgate has predominantly deployed 3 centre-backs and he demands that they are all comfortable on the ball. The preferred centre-back trio consists of Man City’s Kyle Walker and John Stones on the right and centre respectively with Leicester’s Harry Maguire on the left. Stone’s is positioned centrally as he is key to the ball moving past the opposition press and into midfielders or forwards. Calm and collected in possession, Stones has been a key figure in Pep Guardiola’s record breaking Manchester City side where his duties in possession are largely the same.

Stones often takes the ball from his keeper and pushes the team up the pitch, directing play and looking for gaps in the first layer of the opposition block.