England's goalless draw with Ghana reminded Emma Hayes of many games in her coaching career, facing a team that is extremely compact, positioned very low, and well drilled. To break them down, you need to play with more variety, better movement, and urgency. It took England too long to play with urgency.
England can expect the same stubborn defending from Panama on Saturday in their final group match. Therefore, in the buildup, they will have been working on the key details needed to score against a low block.
Patience and Urgency: Lessons from PSG
Paris Saint-Germain's equaliser against Arsenal in this year's men's Champions League final is a good example. Arsenal were camped in their own half after the break, and PSG patiently strangled them. You have to create more urgency without rushing. PSG won their penalty not by lumping a ball into the box, but by creating a give-and-go around the penalty area.
Their patient, methodological approach might be difficult for some to understand. Whipping in crosses against a back four with a wall of five players in front, with fewer than six or seven yards between them, is very hard. As a coach, you want players to find ways to create chaos. You have to be patient and urgent simultaneously.
England's Static Play and Tactical Issues
Thomas Tuchel was becoming frustrated with the lack of movements; England were quite static. If this type of situation occurs in a knockout game, Hayes suspects we would see full-backs used as wingers, bringing on a second striker, switching to a 3-5-2, and trying to get two attacking No 10s on the pitch. Ghana matched England in one-on-ones, were aggressive in duels, and did not respond to press-baiting. Crucially, Ghana's wide players did not jump up to the ball, making it harder for the spare player to find space in the pockets.
England setting up with a right-footer as left-back, Djed Spence, was far from ideal. They wanted to switch play to Noni Madueke when he was spare, but Elliot Anderson was always marked, so they could not switch through him, making switches even slower.
Key Changes Needed: O'Reilly and Rashford
Hayes would have started Nico O'Reilly to see different types of crosses from deeper spaces with runs from deep, as shown with his late headed chance. England also desperately needed Marcus Rashford brought on sooner. It was a game that needed someone brave in one-on-ones to take players on.
These are the games where you require a moment of magic, moments seen from Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi in this tournament. England did not find one. However, England are in a strong position in their group. It is important not to be too reactive. Ghana thoroughly deserved the point.
Calm and Perspective
Tuchel will be thinking 'we've got four points in the bag.' Hayes notes that Spain and Portugal drew their opening games. It happens. Objective No 1 is get out of the group; objective No 2 is win it. England are on track. After two games, we have learned that against low blocks, they will have to refine key details. Against Panama, England have the perfect chance to improve.
The senior players, who have played in enough major tournaments, will keep everyone calm. Without experience, it is easy to get caught up in the rollercoaster of emotion. But playing in major tournaments is a marathon. Be calm. Now, can we find another level in our performance? Hayes expects they will be ready.
