Gary Neville says the balance of the England midfield is the “major concern” facing Gareth Southgate at Euro 2024.
England sit top of Group C after edging past Serbia 1-0 in their tournament opener thanks to Jude Bellingham’s early header.
England controlled the first half but lost their way in the second, raising more questions over how Southgate can get the best out of his squad.
Rob Dorsett looks at the positives and negatives from England’s opening Euro 2024 win over Serbia.
“The midfield is the major concern and the fluidity of the game that comes through there is one thing we need to try and work on in the group stage because when we play against a good team, we’ll have to have it right,” said Sky Sports’ Neville.
“There are some small alarm bells around balance and having a good group of players that are very talented but are we as good a team?
Image: Jude Bellingham celebrates his goal with team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold
“Last night, you start to think about the impact and influence of Jordan Henderson and Kalvin Phillips. The best players don’t make the best team sometimes.
“We’re aware Kieran Trippier is right-footed at left-back and is playing there because of all the injuries in that position which creates a further imbalance. But in midfield, somehow we have to try and get that right. Gareth [Southgate] will be more than aware of that.
“Having that partner alongside Declan Rice is important because I don’t think he is at his very best when he’s sat back covering for other players. Mikel Arteta found that out at Arsenal and worked out he was better being able to move forward. Jorginho or [Thomas] Partey came in at the end of the season.
“There’s no doubt we’re a little undercooked, players having not played for a few weeks and maybe that’s the first time that team has played together, I’ll think they’ll get better.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold made up a three-man midfield alongside Declan Rice and Bellingham. He showed flashes of his passing range and helped out defensively, but made one mistake deep in the England half which handed a chance to Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.
“We know [Alexander-Arnold] can do it when he moves into midfield from right-back and then can deliver those crosses and passes. There were times when he found himself with his back to play and that is a different story,” said Neville.
“I don’t really want to focus on him being a problem in there. It was the balance of the entire midfield and I include Declan Rice in that as well – and what England need to have in there to be able to move forward in this tournament.
“All eyes will be on Trent Alexander-Arnold. His best position is right-back and having the ability to move forward on that side or coming inside and playing that quarter-back role. It doesn’t look like we’re going to do that, it looks like we’re going to stick with Kyle Walker which is absolutely the right decision.
“Gareth will know he’s got an issue with these talented players and how he gets them all into the team – and most importantly with the right balance.”
Neville believes the answer could be for Southgate to stick with his current side.
“An imbalance may have been created last night not because of the wrong personnel. It may be they just haven’t played enough together. It may be when that team plays together for three games in the group,” he said.
“Sometimes we think Phil Foden didn’t work on the left, Trent didn’t work in midfield, let’s get them out and put two others in. It may be the way Gareth goes is for them to get good together and play them together because that’s what he believes in and have three games under their belts. Throwing the baby out with the bathwater may not be the thing to do here.
“Gareth has great experience of how to manage tournament football. It might be the opposite of what we all think which is getting someone else alongside Declan Rice, it may be that they need to play together a bit more.”
Max Verstappen has admitted Red Bull do not have a fix for their problems with kerbs as they could be on the back foot for a second consecutive weekend at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Verstappen had his worst finishing result in 18 months last time out in Monaco as he took sixth place and saw his championship lead cut to 31 points over Charles Leclerc, who won his home event.
Leclerc beat Oscar Piastri, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris to victory as Ferrari and McLaren were a step ahead of Red Bull on the tight, twisty Monaco circuit.
This weekend’s race at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is very different to Monaco but there are several chicanes with relatively high kerbs, which is Red Bull’s biggest weakness.
“I wouldn’t call it [Monaco] a blip. We knew that was not going to be a good track for us just with the limitations that we have at the moment with the car over kerbs and bumps,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.
“We’ve had it for a long time so it’s nothing new, but naturally when people around us are catching up, these problems are a bit more apparent.
“We know that we have to improve it. We had a very constructive week after Monaco to look into details of why it’s not so good on our side.”
Max Verstappen says the team has a clear direction they are pushing towards and is not concerned with the performance after Red Bull appeared to struggle in Monaco
Red Bull failed to win just one race in 2023, the Singapore Grand Prix, another track where kerb riding is important.
The floor of the Red Bull car works very well in the high-speed corners but the suspension appears to be too stiff when it comes to going over kerbs, so the car is unsettled.
Verstappen, who won last year’s Canadian Grand Prix, says the Monaco weekend gave Red Bull a “wake-up” call.
Verstappen says Red Bull’s strategy got ruined after the red flag in Monaco and it turned into a ‘boring’ GP
“We have to just work step by step to solve it, but it’s not something you can fix within one or two weeks,” he added.
“At least it’s a clear direction that we’re pushing into and I’m sure that if we not necessarily solve it, but make it better, we immediately unlock a lot of lap time.
“The car’s not absorbing the kerbs and the bumps like it should be, compared to maybe some of our competitors. That’s what we have to work on, because when you keep jumping on bumps and kerbs, you don’t have grip because the wheels are in the air, and that’s where we lost a lot of time in Monaco.”
Image: Kerb riding is a weakness of Red Bull in 2024 and there are no short-term solutions
Norris: Ferrari are favourites but McLaren have good chance
McLaren have been in contention for the win at the last three races in Miami, Imola and Monaco, with Lando Norris taking his maiden F1 victory at the Miami Grand Prix.
The Woking-based team didn’t score points in Montreal 12 months ago but Norris isn’t ruling out the prospect of standing on the top step of the podium on Sunday.
“I think all weekends at the minute we seem close and impossible to say, can’t say no,” the 24-year-old said.
“I’m never going to say, ‘yeah, this is my weekend.’ But I’m confident enough to say that the last few weekends we’ve proved that we’re close, we’re in a good fight with Red Bull and Ferrari.
“So I’d like to say, yeah, we have a good chance. The team are performing very well, I feel like I am. The whole team is as a collection and that gives us good confidence into every weekend.”
Norris still thinks McLaren’s biggest weakness is the slow-speed corners, of which there are some in Montreal, outside of the chicanes.
He says the team “need to improve more to be on par with Ferrari” in those corners, and sees the Scuderia as the team to beat this weekend.
“I think they [Ferrari] are favourites. With kerb riding, that’s a big part around here,” said Norris.
“It’s going to be close. It’s impossible for me to say if it will be us, Ferrari or Red Bull on top. That’s why it’s exciting. None of us really know and it’s going to be close. Ferrari I would probably put as favourites.”
Leclerc believes Ferrari can win the championship
Ferrari’s double podium in Monaco has put them just 24 points adrift of Red Bull in the constructors’ championship with 16 races remaining in 2024.
Leclerc fought Verstappen for the drivers’ title in the first half of 2022, before his championship challenge faded away due to mistakes and lack of development.
Ferrari continue their celebrations by jumping in the harbour after their victory in the Monaco Grand Prix
Red Bull have won the last three constructors’ titles but this year could be their toughest battle yet.
“I have to believe in it, and I believe in it,” said Leclerc when asked by Sky Sports F1 if Red Bull are beatable in either championship.
“However, let’s say that I think the last two races have been not the tracks that favour Red Bull or show their strengths. I don’t think that this one is a track that will show their strength either, so it might be an opportunity again for us.
“From Barcelona (the race after Montreal) onwards, I think we will see back the Red Bull that we have seen at the beginning of the year, which if this is the case, might be more difficult to beat.
“But my hopes remain high. We still have some things that we want to bring to the car, and if that is enough to close the gap, then that’s great. And we’ll put them under more pressure.
Strategy analyst Bernie Collins describes the value Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has brought to the team
“And once they will be under a bit more pressure, it’s like everybody… when it’s a walk in the park, it’s easier to not to make any mistakes and even if you do one it probably is not seen as much.
“When you are under a bit more pressure, hopefully we can push them into more mistakes and take our chances. For now, I don’t feel like we are quite there yet. But looking at this weekend, I feel like it can be an opportunity.”
Carlos Sainz pushed Verstappen close to the Canadian Grand Prix win in 2022 and both Ferrari drivers came through the field strongly last year after a disappointing qualifying.
Rain could be a major factor throughout the weekend and there has only been one competitive wet session this year, the Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix.
An intense end to Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese GP saw Lando Norris take pole position from Lewis Hamilton in the rain earlier this year
Leclerc hopes the rain stays away on Sunday due to the chaos it can cause and was also told in the written media about Norris’ Ferrari favourite status comments.
“They always say that! Whether it’s Helmut one weekend, Lando the other,” responded Leclerc.
“Everyone doesn’t want to hear they are the favourites, so you are never going to hear me say we are the favourites, and same with them.
“I think the reality is we are so closely matched between three teams, that it will be down to the ones who do the better job, as well as the rain will be here and we haven’t really driven here with these cars yet in the rain.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Canadian GP schedule
Friday June 7 6pm: Canadian GP Practice One (session starts at 6.30pm) 8pm: The F1 Show 9.45pm: Canadian GP Practice Two (session starts at 10pm)
A look back at some of the most dramatic moments from the Canadian Grand Prix
Saturday June 8 5.15pm: Canadian GP Practice Three (session starts at 5.30pm) 8pm: Canadian GP Qualifying build-up 9pm: Canadian GP Qualifying 11pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday June 9 5.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday – Canadian GP build-up 7pm: THE CANADIAN GRAND PRIX 9pm: Chequered Flag – Canadian GP reaction 10pm: Ted’s Notebook
Formula 1 leaves Europe for the final time before the summer break as the championship moves on to Montreal for the Canadian Grand Prix. Watch every session at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve this weekend live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 7pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
