SINCE crashing out of the World Cup at the semi-final stage this summer, Gareth Southgate has guided his England side to a thrilling victory in Spain and a home success over Croatia that booked a place in the last four of the Nations League.

Rather than standing still in the wake of this summer’s success in Russia, the England boss has driven his side to even greater heights. What has Southgate done to maintain the positive momentum that was generated at the World Cup?


TINKERED WITH HIS TACTICS

The Northern Echo:

England played with a five-man defence during the World Cup finals, and the system successfully helped provide the kind of defensive resilience that had been lacking in so many of their previous tournament appearances.

However, shoring up the defence came at a cost. While England were never ripped apart in Russia, they lacked creative attacking options once they made it into the knockout stage.

In the wake of the World Cup finals, Southgate has abandoned his five-man defence and reverted to a flat back four. He has still encouraged his full-backs to push on – Ben Chilwell spent much of Sunday’s game as an auxiliary winger – and despite facing some of the world’s leading sides this autumn, England have remained defensively secure.

Crucially, though, by leaving out an extra defender, Southgate has been able to field a 4-3-3 formation with an additional player in attack. Whereas England lacked options in the final third in Russia, they are now lining up with two forwards on either side of Harry Kane and at least one additional attacking midfielder breaking from deep. As a result, they look much more threatening, with their counter-attacking qualities showcased to scintillating effect in Seville.


SHUFFLED HIS MIDFIELD PACK

The Northern Echo:

With his side having got onto a roll in Russia, Southgate was understandably reluctant to make too many changes as the World Cup progressed. As a result, Jesse Lingard and Dele Alli kept their place in England’s starting line-up even though their form began to dip.

Neither player has been particularly effective in the early weeks of the Premier League season, so Southgate took the bold call to leave them out of his preferred line-up. His decision proved to be a wise one.

Ross Barkley has returned to the fray, and the Chelsea midfielder has successfully transferred his fine club form at Stamford Bridge onto the international stage. Barkley’s drive and power set him apart from the majority of his England team-mates, and his return has resulted in a much better midfield balance.

Fabian Delph has been the other big midfield winner this autumn, and while Manchester City’s forgotten man might not have started on Sunday had Jordan Henderson been fit, he played superbly as England did a much better job of controlling the Croatian midfield than they managed in Moscow.


KEPT THE SUPPLY OF YOUNGSTERS FLOWING

The Northern Echo:

One of Southgate’s biggest successes as England boss is the way in which he has successfully drawn a line under the past and ushered in a new generation of players. Whereas previous England teams had been staid and predictable, Southgate’s squad is infused with the energy of youth.

It would have been easy for the former Middlesbrough manager to cut off the supply line from England’s youth set-up in the wake of this summer’s success, but instead he has started a new process of renewal by giving a batch of emerging youngsters their first taste of international football.

Jadon Sancho, a revelation with Borussia Dortmund this season, now boasts three senior caps and is close to being established as a permanent member of the squad. Trent Alexander-Arnold has five full caps to his name, and is part of an abundance of riches at right-back that also draws in Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier.

Mason Mount is yet to make his senior debut, but the promising teenager has been introduced to the system and could find himself on the pitch in the spring if he continues to progress. Having pledged to create a functioning pathway from England’s junior sides to the senior squad, Southgate has been as good as his word.


TAKEN THE NATIONS LEAGUE SERIOUSLY

The Northern Echo:

When UEFA announced the creation of the Nations League, plenty of people immediately denounced the tournament as a waste of time.

Southgate took a different tack from the outset, talking up the competition as a chance for his players to play four competitive group games against top-ranked opposition. He has treated the Nations League as an important competition, and England have benefited massively as a result.

Last month’s win in Seville silenced those who were claiming that England’s World Cup achievements were devalued by their inability to beat a top-class side, and Sunday’s thrilling comeback victory over Croatia provided conclusive proof that Southgate’s players are no longer cowed by top-ranking opposition.

England’s reward for topping their group is a place at next summer’s finals in Portugal, an experience that will be much more enriching than another couple of Euro 2020 qualifiers. Despite 2019 being a non-tournament year, Southgate can take his squad away to an environment that will replicate the set-up at a European Championships or World Cup.


ENTHUSED THE HOME SUPPORT

The Northern Echo:

As Southgate said himself in the wake of Sunday’s win, one of the best things about the victory over Croatia was the passionate atmosphere that swept around Wembley in the final 15 minutes of the game.

It has been a long time since the national stadium was as energised, with the wave of support underlining the strength of the bond that has been established between the fans in the stand and the players on the pitch.

When Southgate took over, the general mood around the England team was one of apathy and disinterest. That has disappeared, partly thanks to England’s performances in Russia but also because of Southgate’s efforts to make his squad more accessible and likeable.

He has successfully developed a ‘club England’ mentality amongst his players, and that has transferred to the fans. There is a sense that we are in this together, and that an even brighter future might lie ahead.