England – Ukraine: England In Full Control (2-0)
England were able to dominate possession in the first half with a slightly asymmetric 4-3-3 shape which Ukraine were relatively passive against. Goals from Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka put England 2-0 up by half-time, setting up a routine second half in which England repelled any attempts from Ukraine to get back into the game.
Tactical analysis and match report by Josh Manley.
England’s EURO 2024 Qualifying campaign started well in midweek as they beat Italy 2-1 in Naples. Facing Ukraine, Gareth Southgate made three changes from the team that played in Italy but continued with the 4-3-3 system. Ben Chilwell came into the back four after Luke Shaw’s red card against Italy, completing the backline alongside Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Harry Maguire. In midfield, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham were joined by Jordan Henderson this time around, while James Maddison replaced Jack Grealish in the forward line alongside Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane.
Ukraine meanwhile lined up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with a back four consisting of Oleksandr Karavaev, Oleksandr Svatok, Mykola Matviyenko, and Vitaliy Mykolenko. Taras Stepanenko and Oleksandr Zinchenko were the deepest midfielders, as Heorhiy Sudakov played in the number ten role. Ruslan Malinovskyi and Mykhailo Mudryk were then the wide players, with Roman Yaremchuk as the striker.
Dominant England
Ukraine spent large parts of the first half defending in a relatively passive 4-4-2 shape with Sudakov pushing up alongside Yaremchuk. England were then able to enjoy a good degree of dominance in the game, resulting . . .
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