Bulgaria vs England: Should Gareth Southgate change it up for European Qualifier?
Bulgaria vs England
European Qualifiers Group A
7:45pm Monday 14th October
Vasil Levski National Stadium
Englands defeat to the Czech Republic vulnerable fundamental flaws, leaving Gareth Southgate having lots to ponder as he seeks an answer against Bulgaria.
When Kosovo neglect to win against themselves, england will qualify for Euro 2020 with victory in Sofia on Monday , but Fridays defeat following a operation has forced them wait. As a reality check ahead of next summers finals the day at Prague functioned, by the entrance of Southgate.
Theres a good deal of job to be done to be a very top group, the England boss conceded at his post-match press conference – but have his staff really gone backwards?
That was the opinion of this Sunday Supplement panel as they dissected the anaemic display of England.
Hope was so built up by that World Cup semi-final appearance… but now it looks like England have lost their direction, stated Shaun Custis, Head of Sport at The Sun.
Does Custis possess a point that is legitimate or could it be a comprehensive overreaction?
That question will not be answered until later Euro 2020 lead to Sofia and however Southgate can help to get the disbelievers back into his corner with a positive display.
Bulgaria are rock-bottom of Group A after a run which produces the times of Hristo Stoichkov and Dimitar Berbatov feel as memories. As England maintained their perfect start with a 4-0 success to Euro 2020 eligibility harry Kane scored a hat-trick from the corresponding fixture in Wembley.
Bulgaria will offer a sterner check back to home ground – a view backed up from Berbatov – but there will be lots of eyes to the Three Lions performance level. Anything but a convincing win will be scrutinised.
There will be at least one since Danny Rose is frozen which will watch Ben Chilwell yield to the side of the England defence enforced change in Englands starting XI – however a comprehensive reshuffle in the back-line could be on the cards.
Southgate has confessed that he will consider reverting at the back to reinforce. It is not the goals conceded it is the amount of shots they are currently allowing the opposition. Playing two-centre backs does allow an excess body to encourage in whats a device Harry Kane, but it is exposing England the other way.
Spain managed 24 shots in Englands 3-2 win October, Netherlands peppered Pickfords target with 29 efforts in the Nations League semi-final, along with 17 was managed by Czech Republic on Friday.
The benefit of having a third centre-back so is the man Southgate wants to build his own defensive shape and additionally appears to suit Harry Maguire, that thrived in that system at the World Cup. Allowing him protection in a time when optimism is low may give hands in possession to England of they did on Friday night. Maguire was the trigger point for a lot of the attacks of England in the World Cup, striding out of three. A change may do him a world of good.
Michael Keane can make way with Tyrone Mings set to an England introduction on Friday, following a shaky operation at a row for England, according to Sky Sports News. Joe Gomez also is a choice at the core of the defence, since is Fikayo Tomori, that has shown fantastic early season form.
There is A reshuffle under consideration by Southgate.
Questioned on his own formation following defeat in Prague, he said:I think were in a tricky situation in terms of the players that have played international football with us in that area of the pitch [defence] and who are playing regularly with their clubs. So, that is part of the reason we did not do this [change into some line against the Czechs]. It is certainly and I dont think we can dismiss.
Im not sure, ahead of Monday, if that is the perfect thing to do but we are very conscious and assessing all those things
Their progress was hindered by englands struggles in midfield in key points at the Nations League finals and in the World Cup and judging from Fridays performance, its an area where Southgate has to find a solution.
Mason Mount replaced Ross Barkley in the starting line-up at Prague but instead of slotting in just ahead of Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice at a midfield three, the 20-year-old debutant was pushed forwards into a far more advanced function. It unbalanced England tremendously using a two of Henderson and Rice – not famous for their forward departure – fighting against the press from Czech Republic.
The pair have been disconnected from units either side of them and the defensive and didnt provide their passing options to play with forward.
If Harry Winks be given a chance in Bulgaria? Can Southgate stick with Mount, but in a role? Or did Ross Barkley do with his bright cameo off the bench to get back into the XI?
Pickford; Trippier, Mings Chilwell; Barkley, Winks, Henderson; Sancho, Kane, Sterling.
After fans were found guilty of racist behaviour in their games against Kosovo along with Czech Republic in June the match in Sofia will be played in a stadium that is partly closed. The system, set up to counter discrimination will even have spotters in the audience.
Chelseas Tammy Abraham – who was the victim of abuse on media this season – indicated UEFAs racism protocols could be defied by the players of England and also wander off the pitch for a team if theyre subjected to abuse.
Despite the sanctions imposed in his country for racially aggravated offences, Bulgaria manager Krasimir Balakov maintained football has a racism issue that was larger.
What I can say is that I do not think weve got a issue, he explained.
In the Bulgarian championship, we have a whole lot of players of various ethnicities and skin color. I dont feel that we have this significant problem like England do.
What I meant was in the championship, weve not had such issues.
While there have been events in various levels of English soccer between racism, which I believe something normal as its a big country with an extremely diverse population.
But we dont have this difficulty in Bulgaria, I will assure you .
Watch highlights of all of Englands eight European Qualifiers free of charge with Sky Sports – .
The best bits from each game will be accessible on skysports.com, the Sky Sports program and the Sky Sports Football YouTube station from 15 minutes following fulltime – and you will not require a Sky Sports subscription to song in.
Follow Bulgaria vs England with our reside on the Sky Sports site and app, as well as using Sky Sports News Euro Goal Zone; Kick-off 7.45pm. Watch highlights shortly after fulltime.
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