England’s Dull Denmark Draw: The Balance was off.

Whether it’s to mean ‘tedious and uninteresting’, or ‘lacking in force, intensity, or sharpness’, dull is the word that comes to mind when describing the action (or lack of) in Frankfurt today.

Following their 1-0 win over Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday, there was a mixed reaction from Three Lions fans. There were promising signs, with England impressive in their fluid shape for the first half hour, in which Bellingham found the back of the net. But there were also signs of the same old problems: there appeared a reluctance from Gareth Southgate to change things, as England did not deal with Serbia’s mid-game tactical alterations, and his side continually retreated after taking the lead, inviting an abundance of pressure from their Serbian counterparts.

It was the latter that was the issue for Gareth Southgate’s unchanged XI at Waldstadion, as England failed to grow from the green shoots of the opening stages of four days ago. Just as they did in the second half against Serbia, they instead, often literally, went backwards.

The opening stages in Frankfurt had a cagey feel. Bar Pierre-Emile Højbjerg’s speculative pot-shot inside 30 seconds, there was not an effort on goal in the first ten minutes.

There was a moment of concern for England when Kyle Walker went down after nine minutes. The right back was one of many players to go down due to a poor pitch that cut up far too easily, prompting Walker to change his boots.

Phil Foden seemed to be more successful in coming in from the left flank than he did at Arena AufSchalke and had a chance after 13 minutes. After receiving the ball from Manchester City teammate Kyle Walker, Foden used a lovely bit of skill to beat Højbjerg and make his way into the box before firing over the bar.

Denmark were set up to hold firm in a 5-4-1, a slight tweak from the 5-3-2 Kasper Hjulmand utilised against Slovenia, with striker Jonas Wind playing on the right, and Christian Eriksen slightly to the left. But England would make the breakthrough when Kyle Walker made an overlapping run down the right flank, using his pace to beat Danish wing back Victor Kristiansen to the ball. Just to the right of the six-yard box, Walker cut the ball back and played it across goal. It found its way to Harry Kane, who slotted the ball into the bottom left corner with his left foot.  A tidy finish from the skipper.

Now England had a lead, and they would aim to protect it. But they would only do so for sixteen minutes. A poor pass from Harry Kane, who had dropped deep on the left of his own half, gifted the ball to Kristiansen. The Bologna loanee played the ball square to Morten Hjulmand. In acres of space thirty yards out, the midfielder caressed the ball in off Pickford’s right-hand post to score his first international goal and draw Denmark level.

As Phil Foden’s effort from 25 yards curled over the bar, the whistle blew. Cue scathing half time reviews. England were far too negative, as was shown by the below image – with every player’s average position in their own half after they took the lead. There was no energy in the press, and a lack of cohesion in the team.

The sense of frustration was palpable amongst England fans and was summed up at times by Alan Shearer who was commentating for BBC Television. “Well at least he’s prepared to run in behind!” was Shearer’s reaction after Bukayo Saka latched on to a ball over the top from Trent Alexander-Arnold and hit the side netting early in the second half. That was Alexander-Arnold’s last action of note, with the Liverpool right back substituted for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher just nine minutes into the second period.

Moments later, Saka jinked past Kristiansen and played the ball inside to Foden. Operating in the inside-right channel, he hit the outside of Schmeichel’s left-hand post, before Saka skied the follow-up.

With 21 minutes to play, Gareth Southgate refreshed his forward line, Kane Foden and Saka replaced. On came Ollie Watkins, Eberechi Eze and Jarrod Bowen, England looking to stretch the pitch, and Watkins would soon fashion himself a chance. After making a run in behind, the Aston Villa striker was denied by Kasper Schmeichel from a very tight angle.

Denmark had a couple of late chances to win the game, with defender Andreas Christensen unable to keep his volley from a corner down, before Højbjerg blasted an effort wide from 20 yards. Ultimately though, the points are shared.

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Analysis: Something must change

Let’s be clear, this result is far from a disaster. England still sit top of Group C with four points, an amount that sees them all but guaranteed to make it to the last sixteen. Parallels will be drawn with the previous European Championships. After a 1-0 win in the opening game, came a frustrating 0-0 with Scotland. Southgate’s side still went on to top their group and remain in pole position to do so in Germany.

But something feels different this time; expectations are higher. This despite the fact that there is a gaping hole in the squad, with the lack of a fit left-footed full back. Consider too the manager’s struggle to get the best out of all of England’s star players, There are a few shades of Euro 2004.

As well as captain Harry Kane, in Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden this England team has three of the most exciting players Europe. But the conversation around the two midfielders is starting to follow a trajectory that is all too familiar. Whilst Foden had a better game, able to pick up more central positions, Bellingham was much quieter. He also appeared to want to occupy some of the same spaces as Kane, as did Foden at times. The balance must be better.

It’s clear that that getting in behind is not really the game of Harry Kane. But the captain, as was the case for most of the team, disappointed with his lack of pressing. Whilst Ollie Watkins offered more on this front when he came on, as well as making those runs, Kane offers so much more technically. His job out of possession should be to occupy the central defenders, particularly the central centre back when up against a back three, with that being the starting point for building England’s pressing system. Yes, the number nine must be better than he was against Denmark, but some of the running can be done by players around him. Perhaps on the left wing, where England need pace and natural width, as they have with Saka on the right. Another player who can stretch the play and run in behind to address the fact that England’s attack has been very lob-sided to the right so far.

 Southgate admitted after the game that playing Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield is “an experiment”. Between this admission, and the fact that the Liverpool man has been substituted in both Euro 2024 games, it seems that this experiment may be over, or at least put on hold.

Gareth Southgate is going to have to make a big call before England face Slovenia on Tuesday. Either he sticks with the same plan or drops a big name.

The most likely choice, I think, would be dropping Alexander-Arnold with Bellingham playing in a deeper role alongside Rice, whilst still being able to make runs into the box. Phil Foden could then play as the number ten, with a left winger coming into the side. Alternatively, Alexander-Arnold could be replaced by a central midfielder. Conor Gallagher seems probable, though I’d opt for one of Adam Wharton or Kobbie Mainoo. Though both players have played less than a full season of Premier League football, they have shown composure beyond their years aged 20 and 19 respectively. Both are very comfortable on the ball, and though Mainoo offers more of a goal threat, I’d choose Wharton, who is superior defensively, for the balance of the team.

If it is balance that Southgate prioritises over keeping the biggest names on the pitch - which he should - then he may even make a change in midfield and on the left wing. This would mean dropping one of Foden or Bellingham, who whilst being an incredible option off the bench, would certainly grab the headlines.

Southgate must learn from the mistakes in the era the so called ‘golden generation’. For England to do well, they need a team that performs at a level greater than the sum of its parts: even if that means making an unpopular decision.

Denmark (5-4-1): Schmiechel (GK); Mæhle, Andersen, Vestergaard, Christensen, Kristiansen (Bah 57’); Wind (Damsgaard 57’), Hjulmand (Nørgaard 82’), Højbjerg, Eriksen (C) (Olsen 82’); Højlund (Poulsen 67’).

England (4-2-3-1): Pickford (GK); Walker, Stones, Guéhi, Trippier; Alexander-Arnold (Gallagher 54’), Rice; Saka (Bowen 69’), Bellingham, Foden (Eze 69’); Kane (C) (Watkins 69’).