The lack of balance costs England. We're creating lots of chances but few are clear cut and though all three teams have sat back to defend we've failed to mix up our play enough. We have a lot of quality but not on a consistent enough basis. Dele Alli and Rooney are able to create opportunities but can they do it as consistently as the like of Ozil and Kroos or Iniesta and Silva? Germany and Spain can play the possession game and grind teams down. England haven't really ever been able to do it without playing more direct.
We need to play to our strengths a bit more. I'm not criticizing the team because it was through their neat passing that we scored the winner against Wales. I don't want to see England do what Germany/Spain do and pass it short rather than put the ball in the box when we have a free kick/throw in up the pitch. It was frustrating to see England do that last night, there was a bit of chaos when we were getting the ball in the box and for all the shots we were having, one might have fallen to the right man. I thought late on Smalling needed to fire the ball into the penalty area rather than pass to Henderson, but overall it was a controlled performance for the most part - all three games have been and England don't ever usually dominate possession.
The balance of the side concerns me. It might have been the fact Bertrand was playing (he was dross) but we didn't threaten enough down the left. Bertrand should have been attacking down the left as Clyne was down the right, then we'd have caused so many more issues and Slovakia would have failed to defend at least one opportunity. Rose needed a rest though, but bringing him on for Bertrand would have countered the Slovakian's decision to double up and therefore nullify Clyne.
When we play in the knockouts this England team could really come into its own. Teams will have to attack because they'll need to win the game and therefore they can't sit and defend for 90 minutes. If the show more ambition, with the power and pace of the likes of Alli, Sturridge, Kane and Vardy and the midfield guile of Rooney and also Dier (who has been brilliant on the ball - looking more and more like Busquets as the games go by) we'll create clearer chances and I think we'll be an incredibly dangerous team.
We're through at least, let's see tomorrow who we get in the next round and go from there. I'd like to play France as I think it would be a cracking game and Rooney, Dier, Alli against Pogba, Kante, Matuidi will be excellent.
