How England Plan To WIN Euro 2024 - Tactical Preview 

The level of analysis on this channel puts the mainstream media to shame!

I'm sorry, but no one, no one, breaks down football tactics like Adam Clery. I'm coining a new word for his brilliance - Clery-fication. Or just, Cleryfication. Brilliant work, as always.

Really see Bowen being a strong figure this tournament. Seems like our most Direct winger and if we need someone in the last 30 mins to come on and just run at them Him and Gordon seem Perfect

Connor Gallagher will be used more in the knockouts. As you say, Gareth likes legs against top midfields and he's certainly got those.

If you put Cleary’s face on the thumbnail, you’ll get more clicks 👍

I think it’ll be Gordon starting the first game I’m really intrigued to see how this works. I’ve been dying to see how the midfield 3 of rice, Jude and Trent works because I think it has the potential to be really special. Gallagher to me is so underrated. He reminds me of a better Henderson in terms of his pressing. He’s always so on it.

Jude should play alongside Dec, hes played there the majority of his career and is world class there as well. Foden is worthless on the left but incredible as the 10, and Gordon is an actual left winger who can hold the width/run in behind when Kane drops deep.

Really looking forward to Trent becoming an important player in this England side. If he's not starting, he can be the difference maker from the bench

Trent’s starting the first game

I would be quite curious to see England in a Leverkusen style system Have 3 centre backs, then a midfield double of Rice + ??, have BOTH Bellingham and Foden as 10's with Kane in front and then Saka at left wingback and (probably) Alexander-Arnold At right wingback

I love Foden - but team balance takes precedence over individual quality. Gordon-Bellingham-Saka behind Kane makes the most sense in terms of an attacking unit. I'd have Trent next to Rice in the MF. While specific circumstances might call for a Gallagher or a Mainoo instead, we have to find a place for our best players. Trent is blessed with the best right foot in English football since David Beckham. He brings something nobody else brings.

With this attacking playstyle, maybe a midfield trio of Rice as a DM and Jude and FOden as AMs with Gordon on the wing would be better

I think for the 'easier' group games a 4-1-4-1 makes the most sense. Ie Rice as holding midfielder, Foden and Bellingham both as Central Midfielders, with Saka/Palmer and Gordon/Eze as wingers. If you've got it, flaunt it.

I think you are spot on - let's hope Gareth is watching!!! - I really hope he goes for it, forget defence - play to win from the start and bring it home.

It's almost as if you made this video after the Serbia game! Your predictions about who we needed on the pitch and who would struggle were spot on. Unfortunately Foden needs to be benched and used as cover for Saka.

Very informative. Question is though: how effective is this high press at international level when considered historically? Can immediately think of many examples of teams winning tournaments playing defensive or swift counter attacking (Greece 2004, Portugal 2016, France 2018). High pressing teams? Maybe Germany in 2014? Hope it works out.

Put Bellingham alongside Rice, give him the free role to move forward with cover from Rice. Foden in the middle please.

Drop the second DM and just play Rice with Gordon and Foden helping Jude and Saka tear teams apart. We can't defend, why try?

Agree with most of that. I’d definitely start Gallagher. However, I’d out Foden on the right instead of Saka, and put Eze on the left

Quality analysis! Whatever happens, having so many top players is a good problem to have 😎.

As a Scotchman…I’m going to say = All the best, Engerland 👍

Trent starting in midfield, not Gallagher lol

Thank you Adam for validating what I have been saying for decades. International football is totally different to club football and club form is totally irrelevant. Looks like Southgate has understood this in a way that past England managers never did.

If you have limited quality in your squad then fine, design a system to suit your best player. But to do it with England's squad, and at the expense of Foden, doesn't sound like a good plan.

Interesting & enjoyable video. Thank you :) Why do England need to press so high to accommodate Bellingham? Do Real Madrid press very high? I think the issues for Southgate to resolve are choosing the right tactic against each opponent, and then selecting the right players to pull off those tactics best. We have a very talented and multi-faceted squad, capable of playing high press and mid or even low block defending, as well as positional or rapid movement attack. For me, Bellingham, Foden and Palmer are very similar players; all thrive in the CAM area of the pitch. Playing all 3 in any system would be akin to putting Lampard and Gerrard in the same midfield back in the day. Southgate has some big calls to make tactically and personnel-wise. And keeping everyone happy when everyone wants to play is yet another challenge!

Adam, you're an incredible analyst that needs to be on TV

Really interesting, in-depth and insightful look into how England will approach this tournament, from this and the previous 2 videos on England I can really see what the aim is. I'm skeptical about it working because it hasn't clicked yet, injuries, players maybe not quite in form etc., but then England have tended to get their shit together by the time the tournament starts, regardless of how smooth or rough the buildup has been. Previously I'd have been shocked if Foden hadn't started, but given Southgate's propensity to prioritise team/system ahead of individual quality, now I'm not sure. Personally, I'd go for Pickford, Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier, Rice, Wharton, Saka, Bellingham, Foden, Kane. Wharton is inexperienced, but in terms of role I think he's close to perfect. Keeps the ball moving quickly, capable of pressing and snuffing out danger, finds the dangerous players in promising positions fairly effortlessly. Mainoo not dissimilar, but from what I can see he doesn't quite have the knack on the defensive side, whereas Wharton seemingly does. I can absolutely see why Gallagher would/should play, but I just think Wharton has that ability to make England stronger on the ball. Trent is a superb player but doesn't seem a great fit for that specific midfield role.

No chance. Best opportunity since 96 was 2020 at Wembley 1-0 after 20 mins and dominating. Then the managers got involved and Southgate lost in all areas of football knowledge and tactical ability. He watched us lose on the side lines and did nothing. He had to change the formation, not the personnel. Sorry, but will never get over that final.

Ben White walks into that defence

Looks like Southgate has decided that the Liverpool system is closest for what he wants. It's more of an inverse gegenpress however with how the midfield is structured. No false 9, instead the 10 and 9 will work together. It'll be interesting to see how committed the 2 pivots will be, are these going to be both number 8s, 2 number 6s or alternating 8 and 6 depending on the moment. Having Trippier overlap, Rice sit deep could let Foden find the half space.

I'd probably have Foden on the bench for Gordon. It sucks but we should learn from the Gerrard Lampard Scholes stuff.

Germany were extremely aggressive against Scotland: Scotland’s defenders never got a second to look for a forward pass and barely managed to string 2 passes together before losing possession.

nah the trent disrespect is seriously getting out of hand. He's been by far englands best player in the recent friendlies

If you wanted to win the ball back in the final third, wouldn't you have taken Jones? It was a stat he was #1 at (per 90) last season before his injury.

Iceland caught them out TWICE playing this way

Who's here after the first game? He got this spot on!

Damn, just got to watching this, and some nailed it! Good job, Mr Adam Clery. Legend.

What worries me is that with a squad full of very good players with very different skillsets, you need a manager who is good at making the right substitutions at the right times - which we have seen is not Southgate’s strength. It’s much easier when you can make a like-for-like sub at 60 min every game. Each of England’s midfielders and wingers brings such a different style of play that the subs will have to be spot on.

I understand that Bellingham is amazing in his role at Madrid and that Foden is too good to bench but I do not think the setup Foden at LM and Bellingham at CAM works. it became very apparent vs Serbia that when Foden floats in and Kane drops down, the mid gets too congested and Trippier keeping the width is not enough of a threat. I think Foden at CAM, Gordon out left and Bellingham slightly deeper is such an obvious solution that no one ever mentions. Basically playing him like Rice plays 8 at arsenal. It is what ended up happening anyways but without any wide threat out left and without walker having the ability to overlap as he always had to join the back 3 with trippier up in the winger position. Either you do build everything around Bellingham and bench Foden OR, my preferred solutionn, you don't build everthing atound one star when you have like 9 top tier offensive players

Foden can start on the left but plays in the middle if a fullback is providing the width for him

Did you mean to say that Kyle Walker is unfit to even walk?

How good is Trent in this system in terms of pressing and ball recovery?

What about Foden as False 9 and drop Harry Kane, which woiuld be really dynamic.

Adam Wharton should play Left Back, since Marc guehi and him play together at palace. Trent & Rice Holding everything else looks good.

Great video mate 😊

in the 94 WC Brazil came with a really good squad and Raí was one of our best players, he won two Club WC with São Paulo FC and everyone was talking about him here, but unfortunately the system Brazil was playing didn’t fit him and our first group stage game was really bad. Next game Parreira subbed him for Mazinho and the rest we know, Brazil fourth WC title… maybe if Foden doesn’t fit in this England system a single change for a “less hyped” player, like Mazinho in 94, can be huge!

As a spurs fan, hearing that England are going to try pressing with kane up front is worrisome. Square peg in a round hole unfortunately

It may win the euros with some good luck involved, but if high risk pressing doesn't work in the warm up games, how is it to work in the latter stages of a tournament?

Be interesting to do a video of how England could get the most out of Foden and see where you would fit the rest of the team in more of a Man City style system?

Can Stones come into midfield as he does for City, playing alongside Rice? That allows Bellingham to move forward beside Foden into the area behind Kane. Saka and Gordon are the wide players. It doesn’t matter that Trippier can’t cross the ball with his left foot - he’s never going to be asked to overlap, as Gordon is providing the width on the left. I’d LOVE to turn up in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday and see England do this.

It should be Foden alongside Bellingham and only one sitting midfielder i.e. Rice. Then he can start a proper winger out wide. Foden is a central player.

Great analysis

Why do people still think that TAA on number 8 works? Maybe those people should rewatch last two games. He was ghost in the midfield and started to shine when Southgate moved him back to right-back

To solve to foden problem, you play Trent at rb. This allows him to step in to cdm with rice when we have the ball and bellingham can push forward. He’s does this with Liverpool and I would play Walker stones and Gomez as a back three when we have the ball. This can allow Gordon and saka to play on the wings and stretch the pitch with foden inside. The worry is if foden plays left alongside a right footed tripper, we have no natural width in the left and everything gets congested in the middle. Be brave with TAA and this can unlock the system

Fantastic analysis

Someone spent their childhood watching Kenny Everitt. The presentation and comedy style is the same.

Ebs certainly won't start any of the matches but I'm genuinely excited to see what he does as an impact sub driving into areas. Here's hoping.

Great video!

Really interesting consideration for how England are setting up which I hadn't really thought of, mostly because Kane can't really press for shit. When Shaw is fit Foden looks good on the left, he looked good vs France. I feel like we are much better off playing 2 8s and letting Foden inside from the right via Trent and Saka can do most of the same job on the left (he won't score as much but should actually be able to provide very effectively for Kane Bellingham Foden). Once Shaw is back on the left vs the stronger teams we can swap them back and drop Trent if we're worried about defending our box, the other 3 defenders should just be Gomez/Stones/Walker playing as a back 3 in possession.

Bowen would be really good in a pressing england team. West ham players suit this style and bowen is great at it. Would do better than saka and rashford at it.

this was very good.

I would personally move a 3ATB Branthwaite/Stones/Walker with Rice/Wharton and Jude/Foden in Front. Gordon/Kane/Saka as a front three. I think with our defence being the worst part of the squad now, limiting those numbers and making the wingers track back and allow Jude,Foden and Kane to go win you the game. Would be great to have a clear out and out 6 for this system or any of our current systems but we clearly do not have that available yet.

Would a 3 4 2 1 work better or drop jude into that cm position on the left with gordon, rice on the right and foden as the cam. Gordon and Bellingham were half getting into a flow and have stated they enjoy playing off each other haven't they so it gives the opportunity to do that. The issue is a more defensive lb in that situation.

I'm usually very critical of these analyses (though the entertaining host draws me back) but I liked this very much. With Dream Team considerations, I think Foden's minutes are assured in the group games and so I'm sticking with him in my starting XI. GS will want him to start well and find form quick. If late in the competition he's (still) a perceived weakness, that's when I imagine Gordon might have to be brought on to break a deadlock / get us back into a game. And I'll drop him - possibly a straight swap for Saka.

For me surely it makes more sense, if they're hard on the press, to have more width in the midfielders in the final third, so rather than having someone alongside rice, have Foden alongside Bellingham... Solves your big issue

I don’t subscribe to the idea that Southgate is holding the England team back, I think sometimes his sub decisions have been off but I believe it’s his player management that’s allowed this group to at least go as far has they have been doing

Id get Trent in at inverted RB, move Walker into RCB. Id also have Gomez starting st LB, he's played there this season. Guehi and Trippier to provide the cover. Then with Bellingham, Rice and Trent pushing up, we'd be a 3-3-3-1 as Id play Saka, Foden, Palmer behind Kane.

I'd have Gordon to start on the left and bring Foden on for Bellingham if he's struggling to impact the game/being marked out of it. As Adam shows Foden unfortunately is far less effective for England when on the wing and we really need the players best suited to this counter attacking system for it to work optimally

I like this wee laddy

You don't think the anchor will be Rice, Foden in the hole, Bellingham between the two, Gordon on LW, Saka on RW?

Sure, regarding the counter press, but how does England build up with Gallagher, Bellingham, and Foden? SG has no discernable patterns of play and relies on Palmer's and Trent's creativity. You can press all you like, but Walker and Trippier have had average and below average seasons. Leaving out Palmer and Trent is a mistake.

The thing is, I’m not going to call Gareth a genius for playing us in a system that we should have been playing in all along. Our strength has ALWAYS been going forward but he’s never exploited it. For me, it’s worth nerfing Bellingham slightly at 8 to move Foden central, because Foden will be nerfed way more playing on the left than Bellingham will by playing at 8. Then have Rice behind the pair then stick Gordon on the left. Yes we might be a bit open, but my god we’ll be so exciting to watch and I genuinely think we’d score 3/4 goals a game doing it.

You’re getting a new projected backdrop for the Euros!

it is sad to say this but i think mainoo offers more than connor gallagher in almost all aspects, he is calm on the ball too but considering his age and that fact he does not have that many caps for england he will not start. I guess based on our defence it makes sense to pick a double pivot because we will be left exposed if we have just one dm, similiar to what has happened with liverpools season this year, the centre back partnership does not really exist , we are weak defensively so i get why we should do a double pivot but really not having trent on the team is a crime, we definitely need someone to be able to see passes that others cannot see or deliver, but as southgate likes to play safe im sure it will be rice and connor in those positions. Also this video is spot on ..... i do not think foden suits this england team with bellingham in the team, so we need to probably choose a way to have the best out of all of the players, hence why i think gordon or eze is a better option , we need players who can go at players and cause mayhem for the left backs or right backs and create chances out of pace and being direct. saka and foden are not those players , If southgates does start both of them i think eze and gordon will definitely be the first subs as they are game changers or BOWEN who really i think will be a key scorer off the bench

They just have to go for it. I feel southgate is a bit conservative at times with the tactics. With this team he has the raw talent youth and energy so with that I'd just throw the dice every game and go for broke. I feel the dossier approach is probably abit much for these lads. English football is physical and end to end it's what these lads are used too so just go in and let fly. Play like your one nil down every minute. Like city or liverpool. I feel he is a bit too defensive and about keeping the shape which is all well and good for a long season but a tournament each game can be the last so you have teams willing to go out on their shields and should be the same with England. Just go for it. Nothing to lose.

Why showing Gallagher? You should know it's Trent

What about Fikayo Tomori, who everyone has forgotten about ? Why did Southgate not bring him ?

Yes, fair play to Gareth But in my view the defence is too flimsy. I have seen flashes of effectiveness but we seem to lack chemistry and the old ways of square pegs seems to be emerging. I don’t think we know our best/preferred 11??????? Our weaknesses are problematic. I guarantee we will either draw 0-0 with Serbia or get beat 0-1. I still think good teams/winning teams need a robust defence. Defending wins tournaments not hype.

this kind of high press is a mistake at international level IMO. I just think it's too difficult to consistently implement. I also think it's insane to play a press and not include TAA. For me, take a risk and play Walker at CB for his pace and Trent at RB.

England will concede goals with 4 at the back, so we might as well put Trent at RB and let him drift inside as play progresses further up the field. Walker can play on the right of 3 CBs with Stones and either Gomez/ Konsa. Could either work as a 3-box-3 or 3-3-1-3 Obviously a 3-box-3 would accommodate both Foden and Bellingham at the cost of losing either Gallagher or Mainoo.

The defence is the problem here - unbalanced and playing dudes out of position. And not mobile enough to support the high press you suggest - although I agree with that strategy given England's power up front. I'd go with TAA, Walker, Stones and Saka as the back 4. The latter 3 give you the capability to play a high line. TAA can get forward and distribute, knowing the other 3 are quick enough to snuff out counters. Saka at left back is a wild card but he's played there before and has the speed and engine to be threatening in the final third. The compounding benefit is he can overlap and underlap Foden if the latter plays wide left, enabling Foden to play more centrally. Either Palmer or Bowen can take Saka's normal wide-right position. I accept it's slightly left-field but Southgate needs to be innovative and cram his best players into a solid team structure - it's gonna be knock-out football so don't be timid, take the fight to the opposition. As a Scotland fan, I can't dislike this England team and I hope England doesn't screw up their best chance of winning a trophy.

Could play Gallagher and Bellingham as 2 number 10s and really press aggressively. Rice middle with stones pushing in. I think foden can press, he runs around quite a lot for city, but they do it a little differently as haaland doesn't really defend from the front much. I think they should have brought another defender instead of eze. I like him as a player, but would probably have Gordon and Palmer ahead of him, and Watkins could play that role. Meanwhile the defence is left pretty shaky. Really needed another left footer for whilst Shaw is injured, and no guarantee he'll be really match fit this tournament.

I don't think Trippier deserves to play Gomes better than him and GUEHI can play and DUNK in the middle.

I think they are the best players but not the best team… and if England manage to be ‘agressive’ and ‘pressing’ I’ll eat my hat. Seriously so much safe passing makes me sick.

It may not be reflected on the stats, but Foden work rate is good enough for the high press

Wouldn't it be better to play with a back three, which would improve our defensive frailties; with Trent and Saka playing as wing backs. Also, wouldn't that allow England to play with two number 10's, Foden and Bellingham.

I like Southgate. He has managed us to many close to winning the major tournaments, what other England managers have done so? Hopefully this time we get the trophy we have been unlucky not to get. By the way the last Euros was really a draw but with stupid penalties settling it, in my view that is not really a loss.

Great analysis, but I don't think the optimism is warranted. England's defense will be weak, and this group hasn't been playing together long enough in the new system to really gel. England has great individual talent, but the magic rarely comes together as a group. My pick is France over England (though the chance of winning the tournament for the "lead" team is admittedly only about 20%.)

stones is in quarentine, and why is arnlod not playing in the starting XI? sould be trippier, stones, walker, arnold. since stones is out then guehi steps in.

I think he should consider a 433 formation... That easy both Bellingham and Foden can play in and around the middle... And he should have taken Rashford or Madison along for the left wing...

I think we have the talent but when it comes to tactics I do think we get bogged down with them and not being brave enough on the ball and runners prepared to make the run. And someone please stop Kane from trying to be a midfield general

You could start Foden as a no10 and drop Jude next to Rice, I think Gordon will be needed to protect the left back. If Foden underwhelms you pull him off (Probably should re-phrase that) and push Jude into the 10 role and bring on TAA, Gallagher or Mainoo depending on the opposition. I would seriously worry about our left flank defensively if Foden plays there. The very best teams sometimes have to sacrifice one or two of the best players to make the team work and if Foden doesn't work for England as a 10, you may have to use him as an impact sub. Crazy I know, but if Jude plays at 10 I don't think you play him.

If Southgate absolutely insists on playing a midfield where Foden does not play as the 10 then I personally would prefer Gordon to start on the left. That’s me speaking as a City fan and a huge admirer of Foden, if he starts on the left he will be completely wasted. I can already see it happening where he plays on the left, has a mediocre game and then gets loads of shit from the media and fans for something which isn’t even in his control. Either start Foden as the RW or 10, or don’t start him at all. I’m of the opinion that it should be Bellingham and Rice together, however I can also appreciate that Bellingham hadn’t played in a pivot in over a year. With Mbappe coming to Madrid I can see Bellingham playing more like an 8 for Madrid, which hopefully means next World Cup we’ll finally see him, Rice and Foden together 🙏

I’m telling you play Bellingham as an 8, Foden 10, Gordon Left - palmer/Bowen/eze as super subs. Bellingham CAN be an 8 and foden is just as good as 10 - why not have both in midfield?

If we don't win everyone will say its coz we didn't take enough experience. If we did and still lost everyone would say he just picks his regulars. End of the day he us not tactically a good enough manager to win any tournament get him out after this summer and get a serial winner in

Youre right that if we do go on and do something, we'll have to hand it to him. But we wont - the narrative will be "the players did it in spite of him, anyone could have won with that squad" .... Until 4 years from now when weve finished rock bottom of our euro 2028 group, jose mourinho is in the press conference calling the fa nonces and resigining before he can be sacked, and at that point the narrative will be " i always backed gareth you know, he was so underrated"

I thought Bellingham likes to play off the left any way fodder and Bellingham can interchange positions during the match

Good…….but clearly this insight should have been embargoed until after the tournament !!

Why not push Bellingham slightly deeper and put Foden in the 10? What more in the world does Foden have to do to have some deference to this team? And when does he just give up on England?

With the Foden issue, you could use him as 10 with Bellingham in a 3-2-2-3 formation: CB: Walker, Stones, Guehi CM: Trent/Wharton and Rice AM: Bellingham and Foden RW: Saka LW: Palmer or Gordon FW: Kane