1) Waiting game pays off for Southgate and co yet again
Patience, they had all chorused. From Gareth Southgate to Jordan Henderson to Harry Kane. They were talking about the realisation of a long-term plan, of course, but the same virtue had been required in both qualifiers over this window. It has taken England time to find their feet in each fixture, exploiting Maltese fatigue last Friday and, eventually, striking up a proper rhythm against Slovakia once the initial approach had been tweaked. Marcus Rashford was instrumental in inspiring this win, looking every bit a player at home at this level, though there was some positivity to be gained from an English team reacting to early discomfort and, eventually, imposing themselves on a contest. A 13th consecutive competitive success at Wembley has eased a few nerves.
2) So are there signs of proper progress?
On the basis that Southgate’s immediate priority was always to qualify for the World Cup, the fact his team now need only two points from the final two fixtures, a home game against Slovenia and a trip to Lithuania, suggests targets are being met. Yet 10 games into his tenure, it was evidence of a plan of progression that England craved. From the outside looking in, that is not always proving easy to spy: do this team play in a distinctive way? Are they learning from mistakes? Are partnerships being forged through the lineup? Southgate would argue yes on all counts. Others may need some convincing and those friendlies against Germany and Brazil – if the play-offs are indeed avoided – may reveal more.
3) Why not have Rashford in favoured position at start?
England cannot afford to pass up the quality they possess, which prompts the question: why was Rashford, one of the few positives from Friday’s win in Ta’ Qali, initially pinned to the right flank in a 4-4-1-1? This was only the Manchester United youngster’s third senior start but he appeared uncomfortable out of a favoured position and was at fault for Slovakia’s goal, first losing possession and then allowing Stanislav Lobotka to run off him to score. Contrast his time on that flank with the impact he made on the opposite side, forcing Martin Dubravka to save at his near post and driving Peter Pekarik into retreat. It was his corner that Eric Dier flicked home to equalise, his trick that liberated Dele Alli early in the second half, his urgency that shrugged the hosts awake and his fine goal that forced his side ahead.
4) How England crave a Hamsik of their own
What England had lacked so painfully in Malta was a creative central midfield able to pick apart massed defence. That is where they are perhaps most exposed at this level, with the reality Slovakia – ranked 22 in the world – can lean on Marek Hamsik to prompt and cajole, or even turn to the emerging talent of Stanislav Lobotka, lost on no one. That pair were key to the visitors’ enterprising start, a side who had concentrated on stubborn defence in previous meetings, sensing vulnerability and pouring forward with menace. They always retained that threat while the contest was on edge, passing confidently and moving intelligently, and might have prospered further had Kyle Walker been sanctioned for clipping Vladimir Weiss as he sprinted unchecked to the edge of the penalty area.
5) Evidence of apathy was all around
Not many qualifying fixtures will attract as many spectators as the 67,823 apparently in attendance here but England have come to rely upon a substantial support and the empty banks of seats told their own story. Southgate could glance up at the stand opposite him to spy 11 hefty tranches of unoccupied red across the length of the upper tier and there were gaps on all sides. Many schools go back on Tuesday, which will have dissuaded some families from coming. But, given events in Malta, where large sections of the 3,700 travelling fans had made clear their dissatisfaction and many left before England plundered their late rewards, the absentees felt troubling. The management can preach patience and issue their pleas for support but some may have seen enough.
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