England enjoyed a near-perfect international break, scoring 14 goals in four Nations League games, and Thomas Tuchel's side appear to have stepped up a level going forward. The absence of Declan Rice, who withdrew from the squad, has prompted a rethink that now puts his place under serious threat.
Eighteen caps into his England career, Rice has become used to being one of the first names on the team sheet. Now, for what feels like the first time, his place is under serious and genuine threat. Tuchel has found a formula and a different way to play in these four Nations League games with what the coaching staff keep on calling "tweaks."
Anderson becomes a must-start
Three players started all four Nations League games: Harry Kane, Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson. Three players down the spine of the team. That says loud and clear that Anderson has become an absolute must for England boss Tuchel. And you can see why. It is not that Anderson is better than Rice, but for England they do the same job.
England played a 4-4-2 at the World Cup, with Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham as the front two and wide players. Rice and Anderson did get in each other's way in some games. They cover the same ground, do the same job, and it did not always click.
Different roles for club and country
Rice plays much more of a marauding role for Arsenal and generally has someone sitting alongside him, recently Myles Lewis-Skelly. Rice is brilliant and undroppable for Arsenal, but he is playing a different way. For Arsenal it is more of a No8 role, bombing forward. Rice and Lewis-Skelly would have to play differently for England.
For England, to make the system work, it has been more of a double pivot up until these run of four games. The reason this camp has felt more attacking is that one sits and one gets forward. They have a front four at times. It is high energy, high press and exciting. It brings out the best in England and Kane and Bellingham. Tuchel describes it as a front four, with an exciting and ambitious midfield behind.
Scott and Anderson dovetail
Tuchel definitely discovered a new way in this four-game camp because there was no Rice and he had to try other things alongside Anderson. It is the reason the shackles feel off and it has been action and exciting. Anderson is all-action, gets forward and is always available. His passing and accuracy is off the scale, but he is more of a sitter.
That is why the double act with Alex Scott, already established for the England under-21s, worked so well. Anderson sat while Scott always looked forward. Scott is the antidote to the accusation that England players do not have ball players or possession in their DNA. He always looks forward with his vision and passing. They fit brilliantly, and they are a better fit than Rice and Anderson.
Rice is England's vice-captain, yet he is no longer indispensable. Of course he will come back into the squad, but Tuchel has spoken about healthy competition and wanting to encourage players to turn up every time. Rice is not on the naughty step like Cole Palmer, but he now has proper competition.
Potential benefit for Arsenal
This could also be good news for Arsenal. Rice played too many games last season, was near burn out and had major issues with his back through the World Cup. He needed this mini break more than anyone, but the reality is that he may get more down time in future with England.
