How England must set up against Slovakia challenge

Southgate will have to compromise for his team to progress

- MIGUEL DELANEY

In the last few days before tonight's Slovakia game, Harry Kane has been sitting with Jude Bellingham to watch clips of their play together in the group so far. It is telling that there isn't that much of it. Bellingham has already earned a reputation as a young player who will tell almost anyone what he thinks, but he knows to listen to the captain. Kane has been talking to him about what they can do to become more fluid.

It is also why Southgate tends to leave the final words before big games to Kane, and some of the other senior players. The striker isn’t the most expansive speaker, but he can be to the point. That’s all Southgate feels England need now.

“There are moments where you touch on certain things, but we have been delivering messages all week,” the manager said. “By the time you get to the kick-off, less is better. The players are normally ready and you expect them, with their experience, to be in the right zone and the right frame of mind.”

That frame of mind is one of the big uncertainties with England’s entire campaign, to go with what gameplan they are actually readying themselves for. Regardless of the latter, they need to be able to execute it. The first few touches against Slovakia will indicate a lot, especially after all the “noise” of the last two weeks, as well as the boos after the actual performances. Southgate believes the extended break after the group stage has done the squad good, to go with the mental shift from group games to knockouts.

“There’s definitely an excitement and a good feel around the group the last few days,” he said. “It also coincided with being able to have a day off the training pitch and relaxing a little bit. A bit of golf. It’s not always science. We’re surrounded by science and data in our world now, and sport is about joy and enjoyment… I feel we’ve been through a good week in that sense.”