There are various strategies to secure victory in a summer tournament, and beginning with a strong start is just one of them. This approach seems to suit England quite well, given their recent performance.

The win against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday evening was significant, putting Gareth Southgate and his squad in a favorable position to advance to the last 16. However, some aspects of England’s play were lacking.

While the team displayed a fluid and confident style of play in the opening half-hour, they seemed to lose control as the game progressed, which was concerning considering their opponents’ relatively lower FIFA rankings.

Despite this, there were notable highlights, such as the impressive performances of Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka in the first half. Additionally, Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi made a composed tournament debut, adding stability to the defense.

On the other hand, there were disappointments, including a subdued performance from Harry Kane and a lackluster display from Phil Foden. Furthermore, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance, particularly in a central midfield role, raised doubts about his suitability for the position once again.

England produced a nervy performance as they beat Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener

In post-match remarks, Southgate attributed the performance to fatigue and inadequate match fitness among certain players. Right-back Kyle Walker acknowledged that England had felt nervous before the game. However, there appeared to be underlying issues beyond just tiredness and anxiety. It’s reasonable to hope that the experiment with Alexander-Arnold in a different position is now concluded, at least for the time being.

In the intense environment of a European Championship, it’s not ideal for a player, regardless of their talent, to experiment with a new position on the fly. If England hopes to win the tournament, they’ll require a solid foundation for their array of attacking talents to flourish.

On Sunday night, however, that foundation crumbled under pressure once Serbia gained confidence and began asserting themselves in the game. The substitution of Alexander-Arnold for Conor Gallagher with 20 minutes remaining signaled a significant shift in strategy.

“We expended a lot of energy in that first half, and I anticipated a drop-off,” explained the England manager. “I felt that physically, some players needed the game. Many of them hadn’t played a full 90 minutes in a long time. In the second half, we lost control, and it was a good opportunity to introduce Conor, who can add defensive solidity.”

Southgate may find the criticism regarding Alexander-Arnold’s role somewhat ironic. While under pressure to field him alongside Declan Rice for some time, the decision to finally do so in a crucial game is now being scrutinized. However, such scrutiny is par for the course for an England manager.

At the heart of the discussion lies an indisputable principle of tournament football: defensive stability, particularly the ability to keep clean sheets, often determines the outcome of championships like these.

England’s journey to the finals of the previous Euros in 2021 is a prime example. While there were many commendable aspects of their performance, Southgate’s team reached the finals primarily because they did not concede a single goal until the 2-1 defeat to Denmark in the semi-finals. If they can replicate that level of defensive assurance at this summer’s tournament in Germany, they stand a good chance of going far once again.

The England squad boasts an abundance of attacking talent, capable of creating opportunities and scoring goals regardless of who partners Rice in midfield. However, if they appear vulnerable, unbalanced, and jittery without possession, as was evident against Serbia and in the loss to Iceland in a Wembley warm-up match earlier in the month, then the potential impact of players like Bellingham, Saka, and others could be nullified by defensive issues.

Kyle Walker emphasized the importance of keeping clean sheets in tournaments, highlighting their significance in competitions like the Premier League and the Champions League. A solid defensive foundation, coupled with England’s formidable attacking threat, increases their chances of success.

There is understandable nervousness within the camp ahead of the first game, as a strong start is crucial.

‘We are wanting to do the country proud. Hopefully now we’ve got that game out the way and we can go on and achieve something really good.’

Everybody has an opinion about England. They remain one of world football’s biggest draws. Around Europe many were dismissive on Monday.