Tuchel refines England’s build-up and left-sided attacks, BBC analyst says
BBC Sport’s Umir Irfan sees changes to England’s build-up and left-sided attacks, but says Tuchel is refining his approach rather than replacing it.
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In an analysis published on 7 October, BBC Sport tactics correspondent Umir Irfan describes England’s recent changes under Thomas Tuchel as refinements rather than a tactical rebuild. Compared with the preceding World Cup, he says England now involve two central midfielders alongside two centre-backs when building from the back, in shapes that shift between 2-2 and 3-1. Alex Scott and Myles Lewis-Skelly each partnered Elliot Anderson in midfield while Declan Rice was absent. [1]
Irfan says Anderson has sometimes dropped alongside Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa, giving him room to pass forward, while at other times moving further upfield. He also identifies a greater concentration of players on England’s left: Lewis Hall stays wide, Anthony Gordon moves infield, and Harry Kane’s movement towards midfield can open space for Gordon to run into. In Irfan’s assessment, gathering players on that flank creates passing options, opportunities to switch play and more pressure on opponents when England lose the ball. [1]
Tuchel, quoted in the BBC report, said England had added intensity in possession and counter-pressing to their aggressive play without the ball. On the right, he called Trent Alexander-Arnold “not a runner” and said he wanted dynamic movement beyond the defensive line. Irfan nevertheless praised Alexander-Arnold’s play on the ball in both games discussed and saw promising signs in his movement off it. [1]
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