There is a quiet hum of activity behind the scenes at St. George's Park, and it has nothing to do with the fitness work of Harry Kane or the pressing...
There is a quiet hum of activity behind the scenes at St. George's Park, and it has nothing to do with the fitness work of Harry Kane or the pressing drills of Declan Rice. According to information gathered by GoalZaza, the FA is in advanced discussions with Major League Soccer side Sporting Kansas City to arrange a completely private, behind closed doors friendly. This would come hot on the heels of England's opening World Cup showdown against Croatia. You have to ask yourself: what exactly are Gareth Southgate and his staff so desperate to fixThis is not your typical glorified training match. The decision to hunt down an additional fixture, played without fans and without cameras, speaks volumes about the current mood inside the camp. England have just faced Croatia in what was always going to be a gruelling, high stakes affair. That match, against a side that knows how to sit in a low block and punish you on the break, will have exposed weaknesses in transitional play and composure in the final third. Southgate will have seen things he didn't like. Rather than waiting days for another international test, he wants an immediate, live opponent to run at. That is the thinking of a manager who hates drift and craves sharpness.Sporting Kansas City will not be a pushover. They are a well drilled side with athleticism and an understanding of American football's unique rhythm, but they are also a team with nothing to lose. For England, this is a chance to test tactical flexibility without the pressure of a World Cup crowd. The players who missed out on the Croatia game, or those who were subbed off early, can get a full 90 minutes in the legs. It is a clever bit of scheduling, a way to keep the squad from going stale between fixtures. The problem is that a friendly against an MLS side, even a good one, is not the same as facing a top European nation. There is a risk that the game becomes too easy, that England's rhythm is disrupted rather than refined. Southgate will need to ensure the intensity is high, no matter who is in the opposition kit.Is this a sign of panic or a sign of ruthlessness I think it is the latter. The best managers never stop tinkering. They never assume the job is done. By bringing in Sporting Kansas City, England are effectively creating a laboratory for their own improvement. They can work on breaking down a stubborn defence, or rehearsing high press patterns without the fear of embarrassment. It is a smart, low key move that could pay off handsomely if it sharpens a couple of edges before the knockout rounds. If it backfires, well, nobody will ever see the tape. That is the beauty of a secret friendly in the age of total exposure.
