When you hit on an idea that works, it can be hard to give it up. In November, Gareth Southgate set his England team up with a back three in the friendlies against Germany and Brazil, and came away with two creditable goalless draws, successfully keeping the two top-ranked international sides at bay for 180 minutes. That was four months ago, when Southgate’s tactical tinkering still had a somewhat experimental flavour, but when England play Holland and Italy later this month, it will be safe to assume that whatever formation Southgate chooses will be a very strong favourite to be England’s starting system in their first game of the World Cup against Tunisia, three months hence. Should Southgate stick, or twist? Although it may seem…

Source: The Times March 16, 2018 12:00 UTC