England vs Colombia, World Cup 2018: Drop in performance raises question about Gareth Southgate’s tactical nous

Jose Pekerman's switch to a 3-5-2 left England bereft of ideas and swamped with crosses eventually resulting in a late equaliser

England finally ended their abysmal run in penalty shoot-outs with their second-round victory over Colombia, but a dramatic drop in performance towards the end of normal time raises a question about Gareth Southgate’s ability to influence matches tactically.

Jose Pekerman spring a surprise with his team selection. Having previously used a 4-2-3-1 and experimented with a 4-3-3 in training, this was actually more of a midfield diamond. With James Rodriguez out, Juan Quintero played as the number 10, with Radamel Falcao upfront to the left, and Juan Cuadrado playing in a right-sided forward role. Quintero pushed forward to press England’s centre-backs three-against-three, but Pekerman’s approach was basically about keeping things tight in deeper positions, and guarding against England’s midfield runners.

The first half, in truth, was a slow-burning and overly physical affair. England’s wing-backs, Kieran Trippier and Ashley Young, were often free for a switch of play, but weren’t found particularly quickly. When they did receive possession, they were closed down by Colombia’s full-back duo of Santiago Arias and Johan Mojica, forced to push high up h. That opened up space for England’s forwards to spring into in wider areas, but Colombia’s speedy centre-back partnership of Davinson Sanchez and Yerry Mina were capable of covering those zones.

3-5-2 proved the dominant formation during the game (www.sharemytactics.com)

As in England’s first two games of this tournament, their most creative option was right-wing-back Trippier, making a strong case to be regarded as the best right-sided defender in this competition. It was Trippier’s cross that found Harry Kane at the far post in the early stages, with England’s captain heading over the bar, and then shortly before half-time a similarly impressive ball gave Raheem Sterling a half-chance at the near post. Trippier also had England’s best first half attempt at goal from a free-kick, struck wide, and later would create a headed chance for Harry Maguire at a set-piece, and play a fine ball in behind for substitute Jamie Vardy. He eventually created five chances, more than anyone else on the pitch.

Things continued in a similar pattern after half-time, up until Kane was hauled to the floor and stepped up to convert the resulting spot-kick, the most typical goal of England’s World Cup campaign, which has been peculiarly focused upon corners and penalties. England’s one-goal lead forced Pekerman to reshape. He immediately introduced a second striker, Carlos Bacca, and Colombia stopped fouling and whining, instead relying upon their technical quality.

Pekerman switched to a 3-5-2 system, which appeared a pre-arranged Plan B because Colombia reorganised quickly and efficiently, with Mojica and Cuadrado moving into wing-back positions, forcing back their opposite numbers Trippier and Ashley Young, before forcing a spell of intense pressure. Both wing-backs crossed dangerously into the box, and eventually Colombia’s pressure was good enough to bring Mina’s late headed equaliser, his third goal in three games.

England, in truth, struggled to cope with Colombia’s Plan B. Southgate attempted to introduce some protection for the defence in the shape of Eric Dier, on for Dele Alli, with Jordan Henderson pushed into a more advanced role. Dier, however, badly struggled to get up to speed and was lacking in terms of both mobility and possession play. England’s wobble, in the final stages of normal time and the opening part of extra-time, coincided perfectly with the period when Dier was deployed in front of the defence.

Two tactical changes, however, helped England stabilise the game. Pekerman surprisingly moved from 3-5-2 to more of a 4-4-2, and suddenly England were less troubled by crosses. Southgate, meanwhile, introduced Marcus Rashford for Kyle Walker, which meant Dier dropping into defence and Henderson resuming his holding midfield role. For the final 10 minutes of extra-time, England once again looked in control. The penalty shoot-out, with Henderson nearly the villain and Dier the eventual hero, was something of a poor reflection upon their performances in the game itself.

Southgate will surely spend the next couple of days assessing England’s performance towards the end of normal time and at the start of extra-time, when Pekerman’s changes handed Colombia the initiative. England struggled to find solutions, from players or manager, and while they’re safely into the quarter-finals, they must learn to weather the storm if they’re to lift the World Cup.