England achieve something they’ve never done before – and it shows the blueprint for Euro 2024 glory
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Of course we haven’t achieved what we want to, but I think tonight was a big statement after the disappointment of the World Cup and for huge spells of the game, to play really well shows what type of team we want to be.” That is of course a team that can go anywhere – to any stadium, against any opposition – and completely impose their own game. Jude Bellingham takes on Rafael Toloi during England’s match in Naples That was what really stood out about that first half and why, in its own way, it had qualities even that famous win in Munich didn’t. One of the long-term regrets with England has been how they just haven’t been able to control the midfield and the tempo of a game like a truly top-class international team. The lesson from this, to go with the confidence from such a victory, is to ensure the first half is much more repeatable; that it becomes England’s signature display.