England did little to inspire hope on Tuesday night, labouring to a 0-0 draw against Slovenia to end their Euro 2024 group stage campaign.
Gareth Southgate’s side were hardly convincing in the 1-0 win over Serbia to start Euro 2024 and were woeful in a 1-1 draw with Denmark last week.
An improvement was expected against Slovenia on Tuesday night but it was another disappointing display.
England failed to break Slovenia down in a 0-0 draw in Koln, producing a fairly toothless performance.
Three underwhelming displays have remarkably been enough to take England through to the knockout stages having finished top of the group.
England just haven’t got going and Southgate needs to find some answers ahead of a knockout clash this weekend.
Jack Wilshere on Arsenal’s Declan Rice
England just haven’t quite found a balance in this tournament with a number of positions causing problems.
Phil Foden hasn’t looked natural on the left side and Kieran Trippier has been a little uncomfortable at left back in terms of his attacking play.
Then there is the matter of finding a real partner for Declan Rice in midfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was given two starts in that role before being dropped for Conor Gallagher, who was then substituted at half time for Kobbie Mainoo against Slovenia.
Rice is a constant in the England midfield but he has also come in for criticism after a couple of below-par displays.
The Arsenal man looked a little more like his usual self against Slovenia and he has now been praised by Jack Wilshere.
Wilshere certainly knows the territory of being an England and Arsenal midfielder and has now told The Sun that he felt Rice improved on Tuesday night.
Wilshere believes that Rice proved that he can play as a holding midfielder on his own, proving people wrong in the process.
The former Gunners ace added that Rice strangely had more freedom to get forward despite being in ‘a more withdrawn role’, believing that the Arsenal star was able to play more of his natural game.
“We had more of the ball and seemed more in control. But I wanted us to be braver,” said Wilshere. “It proves the point that Declan Rice can do that position on his own. It sounds strange to say it, but even though he was in a more withdrawn role, he seemed to have more freedom to get forward,” he added.
Rice statistics v Slovenia
Arsenal fans know exactly how good Rice can be and Southgate will be well aware too.
The 25-year-old was one of the Premier League’s very best midfielders this past season and he was getting somewhere back to his best against Slovenia.
Rice recorded three tackles and one interception alongside one shot, one successful dribble and two key passes.
Rice completed 91.4% of his passes whilst completing all three of his long passes.
Yes, England will still need more from Rice going forward and there are still some opportunities where he turns down forward passes to go backwards or sideways.
This was better from Rice though and Wilshere has seemingly spotted some encouraging signs from the Arsenal star as England finally look to find some momentum.
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