England newbie Angel Gomes has impressed in the brief Lee Carsley era — doing the simple, offering the valuable: control. England don’t typically control games. In fact, in the finals of both Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, they managed 34 per cent possession.  

For all Declan Rice’s steeliness, he’s not what we might call a ‘metronome’, keeping his team ticking along. Gomes is. Here’s a player who, so far, looks to be the answer if the Three Lions are to control big matches. And yet, you just can’t see a world in which he starts for England. That is unless Cole Palmer simultaneously drops to the bench.

New manager Thomas Tuchel will likely stick with a similar system to that which Carsley has deployed since taking over as interim coach: A 4-2-3-1 on paper, with an inverted right-back, and direct wingers. Until now in his managerial career, Tuchel has opted to build up with a base of three, regardless of his formation, which will suit Trent Alexander-Arnold, who likes to drift higher up in these moments. 

With England in a 4-2-3-1, Alexander-Arnold’s movement infield will likely prompt one of the central midfielders to advance up the pitch too, as shown above. 

At this point, the solution seems obvious. Declan Rice can stay as the No.4, with Jude Bellingham as his partner — free to roam as a No.8. This leaves the ever-zestful Cole Palmer to assume the No.10 position. Perfect, no?

No. While he takes up similar positions to Gomes, Rice’s qualities do not lie in ball progression and build-up. Indeed, the Arsenal man has often struggled to establish control when left alone at the base of England’s midfield. 

What’s more, England has looked vulnerable during attacks, with nothing but a naive and feeble-looking 3+1 rest defence. Rice sits in front of a back three, and England chuck six players in and around the box — a tactic that’s not conducive to controlling matches. With fewer players behind the ball, counter attacks happen far more frequently, and England can go from creating chances to defending their goal in seconds.

Greece and the Republic of Ireland certainly took advantage of England’s lack of control, and it’s because, in a midfield of Rice, Bellingham and Palmer, the Real Madrid man would have to commit himself to a ‘sitting’ role. 

It seems Tuchel has a choice to make, does he start Gomes, Rice and Bellingham in a balanced system with control in big moments? Or does he sacrifice an element of control to fit Palmer and Bellingham into the same team, restricting Bellingham’s attacking activity?