MARTIN KEOWN: What happened to the love train? Gareth Southgate should call on spirit of 2018 and show more imagination from set-pieces
- England had joy from set pieces in the early days of Southgate's time in charge
- They should bring back the tactics in a bid to be more successful at Euro 2024
- LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY: It's time to back England!
England under Gareth Southgate have long posed a threat from set-pieces, not least at the 2018 World Cup when six of our 12 goals in Russia came from corners and free-kicks.
It was an area where we were the envy of everyone, so dominant that our opponents can only have been fearful whenever they had such a situation to defend. It included England using what was described as a 'Love Train', of players lining up in the penalty box only for that bunched up group to break away in different directions when the cross came in.
You may recall that was how Harry Maguire scored against Sweden in the World Cup quarter-final, a powerful header from around the penalty spot. We haven't seen that tactic repeated at Euro 2024 and, clearly, there is work to be done. What was a huge facet of our play in the past is not functioning in the present.
England are yet to score from a set-piece in Germany and after their work on the training field this week, Southgate will hope normal service is resumed in Sunday's showdown with Slovakia.
Yet it all starts with England's overall play. After three group games, we are still waiting for the attack to truly click. Naturally, that is a contributing factor to why England have not won as many corners as usual, and why there have been fewer opportunities to win fouls in the final third, which was typically a speciality of Jack Grealish.
England previosuly used what was described as the 'Love Train' when it came to set pieces
Six of England's 12 goals came from set pieces at the 2018 World Cup, including Harry Maguire's goal against Sweden
A speciality of Jack Grealish was typically being able to win fouls for his side in the final third
A total of nine corners in three group games is some way short of our tournament average. There was one against Serbia, two against Denmark and it was only once England managed a more dominant 74 per cent possession against Slovenia that six were secured.
They were unable to make any count, however. Maguire , so often the target at set-pieces, has been a big miss.
Declan Rice takes the corners for Arsenal but is now being asked to get on the end of them for England. Unfortunately for Southgate, Slovenia cleared the danger more often than not.
England have players who can provide good service. Kieran Trippier took four of the corners against Slovenia and Phil Foden the other two. Sometimes their crosses were aimed for Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham in the centre of the box. Other times they went deep to Rice, the intention being that he would head the ball back across for someone to tap in.
England have scored from set pieces throughout Southgate's reign, but are yet to do so at Euro 2024 in Germany
Southgate (pictured) and his side received a lot of praise and it's not too late to bring the tactic back
England need to show creativity with how they set themselves up in the area and an individual desire to attack the cross when it comes.
Southgate and his players won huge praise at the 2018 World Cup for their prowess from set-pieces, and they continued to score from them at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup, too. England could now really do with getting that going at Euro 2024, starting on Sunday against Slovakia.
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