Euro 2020: Defiant Kasper Schmeichel an unlucky loser

England win the battle on the flanksOne of Southgate’s triumphs at Euro 2020 has been his problem-solving, rendering those critics who once accused him of lacking tactical nous very foolish. The ploys he has used to counter opposition threats have been remarkable in their variety.

In England’s opener he nullified Marcelo Brozovic, Croatia’s deep-lying midfield rhythm-setter, by pushing Kalvin Phillips high, while against Germany he switched to 3-4-3 and used Kieran Trippier to take the dangerous Robin Gosens out of the game. Denmark had their own threatening left wing back — Joakim Maehle — yet with a different formation (4-3-3) Southgate still came up with a way to neuter their danger man.

He did it by adopting the old maxim that attack is the