The Three Lions Chronicles: Chapter Two

Being an England fan during a major tournament is always a rollercoaster ride and the initial optimism following an opening win against Croatia was tempered by a 0-0 draw with 'Auld Enemy' Scotland at Wembley last Friday. 

Playmaker collaborator and England fan Louis Bent will be giving us his thoughts after each England game at Euro 2020 - and here's his latest installment...

The oldest international fixture in the world, with so much promise and anticipation coming into the game, saw a lifeless and enigmatic performance from England in their stalemate with Scotland. 

Friday night provided a real wake up call for Gareth Southgate’s men with the Three Lions manager choosing to play firmly with the handbrake on in the first meeting between these two sides at a major tournament since Euro 96,

England set up with only two changes from the side that secured a 1-0 opening fixture victory against Croatia with Reece James and Luke Shaw preferred at full back to Kieran Trippier and Kyle Walker. 

However, it wasn’t necessarily the personnel that riled up England fans, it was the slow and lethargic approach to the game – which was completely at odds to Scotland’s. 

©Getty / Shaun Botterill

The Scots put in a tenacious and driven performance that was embodied by 20-year-old Billy Gilmour of Chelsea, who was making his first Scotland start, but played like it was his 100th.

Scotland were organised and got their point to put defeat against the Czech Republic behind them.

However, it has to be said that England played into Steve Clarke’s hands: the hosts guilty of persistently playing the ball in front of the regimented opposition, which is exactly what the Scots would’ve wanted. 

©Getty / Laurence Griffiths

Captain Harry Kane looked off the pace for a second game in a row - the Tottenham forward looking solitary and immobile up front - although, in his defence, he was deprived of any good service with England's creative threats effectively marked out of the game.

Last week myself and virtually the entirety of the English population were crying out for the entry of Jack Grealish into the fold. However, this week, the Aston Villa talisman couldn’t make the difference, as he was frequently doubled up on by Scottish defenders. 

This should’ve left space for others to run into, but the necessary intensity and creativity to trouble the Scots was severely lacking throughout.

The lack of runs and cute interplays between some of the best attacking talents in Europe was incredibly concerning.

What was perhaps more concerning was Southgate’s inability to give his side freedom and alter his conservative style. We got away with it last Sunday against Croatia, but a virtually unchanged line-up turned in a passive and uninspired display that acted as a serious reality check for England.

We can confirm that Billy Gilmour has tested positive for COVID-19.

Having liaised with Public Health England, Billy will now self-isolate for 10 days and therefore miss tomorrow’s UEFA EURO 2020 Group D match against Croatia at Hampden.https://t.co/lRNWvckqCK

— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 21, 2021