1) England create a diamond where nobody shines
England’s first-half midfield diamond, with Fabian Delph on the left and Jordan Henderson on the other side, offered very little width, therefore putting the onus on the full-backs to get forward. This did not play to the players’ strengths, with neither the left-back, Kieran Gibbs, nor the right-back Nathaniel Clyne renowned for their creativity – both has contributed four Premier League assists over the last two seasons combined (though as Giorgio Chiellini showed, a historic inability to create goals does not make it impossible). Clyne also struggled in defence, particularly against the excellent Matteo Darmian, who proved his success against England in Manaus last summer – on the right that time – was no one-off.
2) Jones’s toil in midfield provokes outpouring of pity
As if Phil Jones has not looked uncomfortable enough in his favoured centre-back position at times this season, in Turin Roy Hodgson asked him to anchor England’s midfield. Glenn Hoddle’s assessment of the idea, at the start of ITV’s match coverage, was simple: “I feel sorry for him.” Before an injury to Chris Smalling allowed him to return to the back four he contributed nothing to England’s attacking play and in doing so made their defensive toil harder, rather than easier. He was also outmanoeuvred by Chiellini on the left wing in the build-up to Italy’s goal. Two years ago this April Sir Alex Ferguson, then about to relinquish the reins at Manchester United, told the world that Jones “could be our best ever player”. It’s looking increasingly unlikely, but if his reputation suffered last night it was not entirely his doing. “It was a bit of an experiment but we’ve got to do that,” said Hodgson of Jones’s first-half brief. “There might come a game when we need a Phil Jones-type in the centre of the midfield.” Fans can only cross fingers and hope not.
3) England’s changes put them in charge
If Hodgson got plenty wrong in his starting XI, his alterations at least were impressive. Every one improved the side, with England much more threatening once Wayne Rooney, rather than Theo Walcott, was paired with Harry Kane in attack with 10 minutes of the first half remaining. Kyle Walker brought much greater dynamism to the right flank (as well as pulling off an outstanding overhead clearance to stop the ball reaching Roberto Soriano), while Ross Barkley excelled and Andros Townsend scored. However Carrick’s arrival in midfield was the most telling, immediately making England a much more coherent prospect. He was “the best player on the pitch by a mile,” according to Rooney, and proving Italy doesn’t have a monopoly on influential veteran unshaven deep-lying midfielders. The irony is that Hodgson, pre-match, had spoken about his concern at the comparative strength of Italy’s bench, only for his own substitutes to stand out.
4) Football’s most dastardly defenders still pulling it off
“Italian defenders are clever defenders. They do anything to try to stop you,” said Wayne Rooney, pre-match. “They’ll do whatever it takes to stop you. If it means taking you out, they’re not afraid to do it,” added Andy Townsend, commentating on ITV. With Brazilian teams having long ago ceased to be reliably inventive, Spain having won things and the entire Euro 2016 qualifiers proving that there is, after all, such a thing as an easy game in international football, Italy’s dastardly defending is perhaps the non-domestic game’s last great surviving cliche. As Giorgio Chiellini welcomed Harry Kane with a muscular block and was later shown before a corner not so much pulling his shirt as practically flaying him alive as England prepared to take a corner, there’s clearly plenty of life in this one yet.
5) Walcott unlikely to be central to striking solution
What, now, for Walcott? Four years ago he insisted, of his role at Arsenal: “I was signed as a striker, I want to play up front. I see myself as a striker.” And yet here he still is, continuing to fluff his very occasional chances to impress in that position. But he was always unlikely to shine here. A player whose outstanding weapon is pace might punish a team that plays a high defensive line, but with Italy not falling into that trap the only way England could release him was by playing very early, long passes – such as Rooney’s wonderful ball, in the 27th minute, that led to Walcott’s shot spinning to safety off Andrea Ranocchia. For now Walcott’s best position still seems to be on the bench, waiting for defences to tire enough for him to be useful.
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