Gareth Southgate has told his team to use their flair and innovation when they take on San Marino on Tuesday – but make sure they do it in the right areas.
The Three Lions go into the sold-out game at Greenhous Meadow as top dogs in their Euro qualifying group after last week’s win over Finland took them three points clear in the table and they can now extend that lead further.
And England’s preparation for the game was thrown into the spotlight after midfielder Ravel Morrison’s stunning back-heel volley in Sunday's training session was caught on camera and quickly became an internet sensation.
It’s one of many examples of the attacking ability that Southgate has in his squad, and whilst he wants his players to play with freedom and the ability to express themselves, he also wants to see them doing it in the right areas of the pitch.
The head coach explained: “As a group, we’ve just got to be conscious that sometimes the simple pass is the best pass and sometimes the right thing is to try something different - we need to get the balance right.
“If there’s an opportunity to pass somebody in – and we’ve been guilty of over-elaborating as a group – that’s the ruthlessness we need to have.
“Jesse Lingard came on the other night, beat a couple of men, saw Saido, slid him in, a perfect pass and a one touch finish – that’s what we need to do.
“It’s [choosing] the moment to use a bit of skill to good effect when you’re in a tight situation or need to beat a player to create a chance or an attempt on goal.
“San Marino haven’t conceded that many goals because they get so many numbers back so you have to do things quite quickly to be able to exploit any overload or weakness.
“If you don’t do that, the holes are quickly plugged and the opportunity is lost, so there are times to change the tempo and control of games and it’s about choosing the right option which creates that chance or scores us a goal.”
With a fully fit squad at his disposal going into the game, Southgate has revealed that he will make changes to the team which started against Finland in Milton Keynes last week.
One of those will be forced on him, with in-form striker Saido Berahino suspended but the likes of Lingard, Tom Ince and Will Hughes are also pushing for a start after their substitute appearances at stadiummk.
Southgate revealed: “I will make a few changes. I thought all of the subs that came on were excellent and were all pushing for a place anyway.
“Of course we have Saido suspended, so I probably won’t make many more changes than that but it’s the balance of giving people who have earned a right to play but also giving the game the respect it deserves.
“This is a tough team to get in and when you’ve got the shirt, you want to keep it.
“On the bench the other night, there were four or five players who have just as much right to come and say they deserve a place with the way they’ve played or the way they’ve trained - so it’s a real challenge to pick a team.”
It’s just over a month since the two nations last met in Serravalle, when England ran out as 4-0 winners thanks to a Michael Keane goal and a Harry Kane hat-trick.
The hosts put in a strong defensive performance on that occasion and Southgate and his side are aware that they can expect a similar approach this time.
And he’s now looking for a more incisive performance from his team in order to make the necessary breakthrough.
“We know from the game out there, when we scored from a set-piece to begin with and then got a penalty for the second goal, that it was a tight game,” he added.
“We missed chances and that can happen, so what I’m looking for is a higher level of performance in the attacking third of the field than we had last Thursday.
“I thought we had lots of good performances further back, but I think we can deliver more further forward.
“I only say that because we have the ability to do it. If we didn’t have that capability, I wouldn’t make those demands.”
