Prost Writers offer their reactions 24 hours after Wembley scoreless draw

Scotland against England often poses a match that either is a goal-fest or a scoreless draw. The latest rendition of the match, unfortunately, in this case, the latter.

Following a 1-0 win over Croatia last weekend, England fans saw this game as a potential thriller, after beating the side that knocked them out of the last major tournament, chants of “It’s coming home” were rife before kick-off at Wembley.

The Scots on the other hand, desperate for a result following a poor showing against the Czech Republic. With a reported 20,000 scots making the trip to London ahead of the clash, the Tartan Army were in party mode.

The game on the forefront had few meaningful chances that would bring fans off their seats and whilst it was, at times, end-to-end neither side consistently looked like they would score in the game.

John Stones had the biggest chance for the Three Lions in the first half, a corner delivery was headed into the inside of the post and the Manchester City centre-half was unlucky not to score from the rebound. Scotland at the other end saw a major chance from Lyndon Dykes headed clear by Reece James.

Following on from the match, social media saw large amounts of criticism towards the squad but in particular Gareth Southgate, so we asked some of our writers here at Prost International for their views on the game on Friday night.

Steve Clare (SCO) – “I’m less down on him (Southgate). He was outthought by a better (and better prepared) manager, but his players were outfought by hungrier and more passionate opponents. I’d put this out there too: Steve Clarke picks his own team, the English media pick Southgate’s.

“But that’s enough about England.”

“Scotland have traditionally had to choose between our raw Caledonia passion both for football and beating the Auld Enemy on the one hand, and tactical astuteness on the other. Too much of the former has resulted in an occasional tactical naivety. Sometimes we’ve verged too much in the other direction, what we now call a 4-6-0 way of thinking.”

“What Clarke did is combine the two in the perfect ratio, something we possibly haven’t seen since Craig Brown. There is absolutely no doubt how much Billy Gilmour and especially Stephen O’Donnell enjoy playing for Scotland, prompting comparisons with the great Billy Bremner.”

“I’m not getting carried away though. Despite what the English media will tell us, this was not our hardest game.”

“We have the World Cup finalists to come and a raised level of expectation. Croatia have drawn with a Czech side who have already won at Hampden, and themselves have played at Hampden more recently than Scotland.”

“If the Croats play to their full potential, then it will be tough. But they haven’t yet and Scotland have. Scotland will need that pattern to hold for another ninety minutes, plus a wee bit of luck and then just possibly our men might achieve what no Scotland side has ever done, and make it out the group stage.”

Ross Jones (ENG) – “I think there are ways you have to look at last night. Scotland were excellent last night, having Tierney, Gilmour and Adams in that team really solidifies that spine, they were much hungrier than England and deserved it.Looking at how Croatia have played, I think there’s every chance they can go through.”

“For England it was just below par, gave Scotland too much respect and too much space, it was lethargic really. Created very little and never really looked like scoring, they need a reaction against the Czech Republic, because if you play like that against the likes of your France, Italy, or Portugal’s you will get punished.”

“England look very solid at the back, and I was impressed with Mings and Stones as well as the full-backs, I think England just need that runner in the midfield. Someone like a Bellingham who will chase the ball, just adds more energy to that midfield.”

Ben Pennells (ENG) – “I suppose you can’t win them all but if felt like the England squad has gone backwards from Russia 2018. For Scotland though it’s the first major tournament in 23 years and I believe that the result was great for them.”

“It’s still coming home this summer for England, but Southgate has to make some changes to his starting 11 on Tuesday to ensure we actually get out the groups.”

Rory Drake (ENG) – “I never thought England would win last night. Before the game, I thought Scotland would be hungrier and want it more, and at the end of the day, England didn’t need to win having won the first game. We could have gone all out to try and win it, but why? Winning every game in the group stages doesn’t win you the tournament.”

“We’re out of the group now unless there’s a freak set of results. And I’d be tempted to play the players who haven’t played yet in the game v Czech Republic and have the whole squad fresh for the knockout stages.”

“Portugal drew all three group games last time and won the whole thing. In fact, they only won one game in 90 minutes in the entire tournament – the semi-final against the Welsh. We’re not the best side at this tournament. We’re not better than France, we’re not better than Portugal, you could put Italy and Germany up there as well.”

“We’ve got no right to think we should win it.”

Sean Kelly (ROI) – “I’m surprised at the negative reaction to the match itself. As goalless draws go I thought it was very watchable and it kept me glued for the 90 minutes. The bar for what is a good game of football must be very high these days. Either that or I’m easily pleased.”

Matt Lee (ENG) – “Scotland executed their game plan spot on. They sat back and made England do all the hard work. In the first half, their attacking players rarely put pressure on our defensive line meaning we just passed it among ourselves. The Scot midfield and defence sat compact with little space between meaning any attempt at a pass forward immediately allowed at least two players to swarm the English one.”

“There was a lack of urgency from England, no initiative and no real movement. Foden tried his best, twisting and turning to get away from the nearby Scots, but even he was unable to do much as he had no one to offload to.”

“It’s not all doom and gloom as some people are making out though as, once you’re in the knockout stages, no team will set up like Scotland did in order to get a point. France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal etc are all attacking teams.”

“They won’t sit back and absorb. England is a team that likes to attack and perform best against teams that also attack because it allows the creative players to use their spark and flair to play passes between each other, play free-flowing football and drive at people in a counter-attacking or forceful manner.”

Andy Wilkins (ENG) – “I do think the English media are to blame for some of the downfalls in general as we continue to have this hyped-up squad who are expected to do wonders. 2018 was a weird one as we didn’t expect to fare too well. Maybe go out in the Round of 16 or Quarters like usual however we broke that trend by finishing 4th which was sublime in the eyes of many however many still think we should’ve got to the final. Realistically, I was just grateful we got to the semi-finals and gave it a good go personally but that could just be me.”

“Scotland have tried and tried again to get back onto the international stage and now their squad is here to stay for a number of years like that we’ve seen with Belgium and eventually Spain once more and France to a degree. We’ve got the squad to do well and we’ve got the resources to do well but our arrogance proves to be our downfall as per usual.”

“Because of what we achieved in 2018, the media in England are now sure that we’re going to walk it. Reality is quite the opposite as there is no easy game in this tournament. Even North Macedonia wouldn’t be a walkover nor would Finland or even Turkey as we’ve seen over this tournament.”

“Scotland went in with a game plan to frustrate us and they did just that. Heck, they could’ve even won it by a good scoreline and really kicked themselves into contention for 2nd or even 1st place had they won.”

“That result has given Scotland the belief they can join England and Wales into the knockout rounds whilst that result for England proves that they need to shake up their tactics or expect us to exit very early at the hands of whoever it may be we face next after the group games.”

“That’s how I see it realistically. We weren’t the better side by any means, and it annoys me how we have so much talent yet its not used to its full potential. It was screaming out for a Grealish or Sancho yesterday instead of Kane but hey ho. Southgate didn’t see them as good options.”

Sam Hudspith (ENG) – “At the end of the day, we can all go on about ‘Southgate this and Southgate that’ but you have one of the world’s best strikers upfront who is hardly in the game despite coming up against (with all due respect) Grant Hanley and Scott McTominay, complimented by two Premier League winners on the wings and a very bright player in Mason Mount as the 10 (Mount wasn’t quite playing as the ten but still drifting into that space a lot) finishing with 1 shot on target.”

“Of course, Southgate isn’t fostering an attacking style but those players alone, especially senior ones in Kane and Sterling, have to take responsibility both in being the ones to provide that spark on the pitch when things are tough.”

“That being said, Scotland did a good job last night, and with the again massive hype surrounding the match and huge expectation placed on England, Clarke just had to set Scotland up to frustrate them and he did that well. All in all, I think people have got to take a step back and try and analyse objectively.”

Theo Hewson-Betts (ENG) – “I don’t think it’s as doom and gloom as everyone seems to think. Southgate is a motivator, not a tactical manager. He was always going to set up defensively regardless of opponents because if he sets us up offensively, we lose, there’s no shame in that. We don’t concede chances and will just be hoping that one of our attackers can step up in each game.”

“I wouldn’t mind a partnership of DCL and Kane, set up with offensive wingbacks and get crosses into the box. Scotland were exceptional though it must be said and were unfortunate against the Czechs but have the ability and nous to get a win against Croatia.”

Ben Pitkeathly (SCO) – “Celebrating a draw against England may scream mediocrity but after 23 years without qualification it meant everything. Written off before the game by many, it felt as though Scotland were only there to be cannon fodder for England’s front line, but many underestimated pure Scottish grit and a will to win.”

“Scotland’s makeshift defence performed excellently against a star-studded England front line, with Grant Hanley and Stephen O’Donnell proving so many doubters wrong.

“Steve Clarke is the perfect manager for an underdog having perfected his tactics at Kilmarnock when often having to go up against the might of the Old Firm. Defensively sound and dangerous on the break will stand Scotland in good stead for the future.”

“A point against the Auld enemy keeps our qualification dreams alive for now, we now go into the Croatia game boosted by the outstanding performance by Billy Gilmour, who has proven that the Scotland side is more than just defensively sound but can play a bit as well.”

Joe Lyons (NI) – “Obviously, we’re still in the early stages but so far it doesn’t look good for Southgate. Yet another ‘golden generation’ for the Three Lions looks to be being wasted as the manager doesn’t even know his best line up to field. Ultimately, decisions such as leaving Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford on the bench will, in my opinion, cost the side in the long run.”

“There are many talented individuals playing for England this summer, but very few seem to click with each other and the team chemistry, while it might look great off the pitch – it couldn’t look worse on it. Harry Kane, football’s best number nine has gone missing for two straight games against much weaker opponents and it’s no secret the problem runs deeper than the players themselves.”

“With that being said, however, there is a lot of football to play and England have more than enough quality to go on and win the tournament. In order to do so, things have to change within the camp, regarding how they line up to start the game and more importantly how to make sure the team plays to the strengths of their best players.”

Ben Dixon (ENG) – “While in England there always will be that expectation to bring it home, this year it is heightened after the last tournament’s successes. However, it really doesn’t come across that way consistently enough. Arguably this England side is in or is on the verge of potentially entering its golden era, Foden, Mount, Bellingham, James and White just to name a few are all young and are likely to be the faces of this England team over the next 10 or so years.”

“This tournament there was a different feel to the 2018 world cup, a sense of more optimism that the younger squad could provide wonders over the course of the month, yet the side’s more experienced players seem to be falling short even now with Harry Kane’s absences from the scoresheet in this tournament so far.”

“Tactically also questions have to be, and already are being, asked in regards to Southgate, with the inclusion of two holding midfielders against Scotland when the side should be attacking an arguably weaker side.”

“What is clear now though is if it doesn’t come home this summer, is the gradually decreasing popularity of Southgate amongst fans and the media. Who would replace him in the scenario the FA were to see him unfit to be the man to take the squad forward?”

“Without a doubt, the England managerial role is, has been and always will be the toughest role in football full stop. From coaches to players, it is arguable that no role is more scrutinised than that of the English head coach role.”

“With the ruthlessness of the fanbase and the media, the next appointment would have to be calculated, even now, to ensure that the right man or woman is lined up to take the role of England manager, to be the one to maybe, just maybe bring football back home.”