sophocles, on 30 June 2021 - 12:07 PM, said:
On current form, Sterling is IMO, the best attacking player at the Euros. He does run into defenders, but that's what drags them out of position, leaving gaps everywhere. Looking at his goal, it's Sterling who instigates the whole thing by running directly towards the opposition goal at speed; his run draws FOUR defenders out of position, and he has the awareness to see they leave Grealish and Shaw in space,so he lays it off neatly and continues his run towards the goal. He then still has the perception to very slightly check his run through the gap his skill has created, so avoiding being caught offside as Shaw plays the ball in. That's got to be one of the finest goals an England forward has scored in any big competition. England really do have a chance of going all the way if Sterling can keep this form up, if Kane's goal revives his form, and if Southgate continues to unleash attacking, creative players like Sancho and Grealish. I've been calling for Grealish to start, but maybe Southgate is right to bring him on when the defenders have started tiring after chasing Sancho around for an hour. Ukraine are a tough side to beat, and have a couple of very dangerous players, but England should have the class to get past them.
Southgate seems to have got it spot on when to introduce Grealish into a game, we haven't been put into a position where we have gone behind and an earlier introduction of Grealish and the like have been necessary. Hopefully this carry's on !!!! we don't need to play numerous attacking players to start with, they might be needed fresh towards the end of games.