On June 21st, at the midpoint of the European Cup C group’s second round, England drew 1-1 with Denmark. Media commentator Feng Zhen expressed on social media that England’s midfield lacks a central driving force. Southgate, he said, perceives himself as a tactical maestro.
“Reflecting on it, England’s midfield is void of a central hub. Arsenal relies on Eriksen and Thomas to dictate play, while Rice isn’t the one who initiates the ball forward. At Real Madrid, Kroos and Modric control the tempo, but Bellingham isn’t the genuine pivot,” he noted.
“As for Arnold, is Southgate banking on his supposed long passes for counterattacks? But Arnold struggles even to receive the ball calmly. Physically, he doesn’t cut the figure of a defensive midfielder, and mentally, he doesn’t possess the mindset for a central midfielder. The Premier League wouldn’t be the same without players like Rodri, Kdb, or Eriksen – it’d resemble the Scottish Premiership. Yet, Southgate believes he’s a tactical genius,” he concluded.
