![It's time for the break glass option ― England should switch to a back three now](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272731/1720018245/articles/2OmYLFR7f1720029053355/ITS-TIME-FOR-THE-BREAK-GLASS-OPTION-ENGLAND-SHOULD-SWITCH-TO-A-BACK-THREE-NOW.jpg)
England have laboured through to Saturday’s quarter-final against Switzerland thanks to unadventurous opponents, a solid defence and a moment of iconic brilliance from boy-wonder Jude Bellingham, despite lacking an obvious structure or game-plan.
In three insipid group-stage performances and Sunday’s Bellingham- inspired last-16 win over Slovakia, England have appeared fundamentally confused about what kind of team they want to be: do they suffocate the opponent with possession like Spain? Or press high up and use fast transitions like the Austrians?
By the end of the win over Slovakia, they had abandoned any coherent approach beyond chucking the ball into the mixer and hoping for the best.
To be fair to Gareth Southgate, England’s lack of an ingrained national philosophy is an historic problem dating back to time immemorial.
Everyone knows how Spain, Brazil, Italy or the Netherlands are going to play, but what brand of football to expect from England, especially when the chips are down?
Denne historien er fra July 03, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July 03, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![Djokovic doubles down after accusing crowd of booing him](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/UeeAviRms1720548034172/DJOKOVIC-DOUBLES-DOWN-AFTER-ACCUSING-CROWD-OF-BOOING-HIM.jpg)
Djokovic doubles down after accusing crowd of booing him
NOVAK DJOKOVIC remained adamant the crowd had overstepped the mark and booed him on Centre Court last night.
![UEFA had an easy out over ref, but chose to ignore it](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/G3WItkgtw1720548198741/UEFA-HAD-AN-EASY-OUT-OVER-REF-BUT-CHOSE-TO-IGNORE-IT.jpg)
UEFA had an easy out over ref, but chose to ignore it
FAIR play to Die Zeit, the German newspaper which forecast the storm.
![FODEN'S BACKING KANE TO TURN A CORNER](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/9TaD-5OZ31720547905119/FODENS-BACKING-KANE-TO-TURN-A-CORNER.jpg)
FODEN'S BACKING KANE TO TURN A CORNER
SKIPPER IS CRUCIAL TO OUR EUROS BID, INSISTS CITY STAR
![Rodri-Kante match-up will hold the key to which of these giants head to Berlin](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/lD1ZD37zv1720547735424/RODRIKANTE-MATCHUP-WILL-HOLD-THE-KEY-TO-WHICH-OF-THESE-GIANTS-HEAD-TO-BERLIN.jpg)
Rodri-Kante match-up will hold the key to which of these giants head to Berlin
ON THE eve of this European Championship, Didier Deschamps sensed something was not quite right.
![Mixed feelings for legend Anderson as he prepares for his final England bow](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/uBVh7HN_l1720547579730/MIXED-FEELINGS-FOR-LEGEND-ANDERSON-AS-HE-PREPARES-FOR-HIS-FINAL-ENGLAND-BOW.jpg)
Mixed feelings for legend Anderson as he prepares for his final England bow
IT IS HARD to believe James Anderson when he says he has \"made peace\" with the decision by England's management that the Test against West Indies this week will be his 188th and last.
![Disappointing BP update sees heavy selling of oil giant's shares](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/sTIHsc7Np1720547429624/DISAPPOINTING-BP-UPDATE-SEES-HEAVY-SELLING-OF-OIL-GIANTS-SHARES.jpg)
Disappointing BP update sees heavy selling of oil giant's shares
HEAVY selling of BP shares held back the FTSE 100 index today after an update by the oil giant caused City analysts to rip up forecasts for results later this month.
![Vistry promises 18,000 new homes this year](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/K1tX93PvH1720547361484/VISTRY-PROMISES-18000-NEW-HOMES-THIS-YEAR.jpg)
Vistry promises 18,000 new homes this year
VISTRY, the developer specialising in affordable housing, said it would complete 18,000 homes this year and hailed the commitment from the new Starmer government to get Britain building.
![Thames Water faces new liquidity crisis in spring without investment](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/Hz9gpV01m1720547234149/THAMES-WATER-FACES-NEW-LIQUIDITY-CRISIS-IN-SPRING-WITHOUT-INVESTMENT.jpg)
Thames Water faces new liquidity crisis in spring without investment
THAMES Water bosses today issued a bleak warning that London's biggest water supplier will run out of money by May next year without major injections of cash from investors.
![Exciting Belgrade makes London look so dull](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/UpuEBaMZd1720547121316/EXCITING-BELGRADE-MAKES-LONDON-LOOK-SO-DULL.jpg)
Exciting Belgrade makes London look so dull
IT was, I admit, an obscure destination for a weekend break. An unsmiling Serb in a bar was so bemused by the presence of two Brits in his nation's capital that he seemed to believe we were spies.
![My ex-husband Donald Trump is entirely innocent](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22096/1760152/gkoplYGJg1720546681839/MY-EXHUSBAND-DONALD-TRUMP-IS-ENTIRELY-INNOCENT.jpg)
My ex-husband Donald Trump is entirely innocent
Marla Maples, the presidential candidate's ex-wife, would be forgiven for hating her former husband - instead, she has joined his campaign. She tells Joe Bromley about family, freedom and why she doesn't believe he's guilty