From Serbia to Spain – how England learnt to evolve in seven steps

Guéhi impressed against Serbia in England’s opening game, solving Southgate’s dilemma going into the tournament of who would partner Stones at centre back

REUTERS/WOLFGANG RATTAY

Match 2: June 20, group C — England 1, Denmark 1 (4-2-3-1)

An unchanged team but a tweak to the formation with Alexander-Arnold and Declan Rice playing as a double pivot and Jude Bellingham in the No10 role. Despite Southgate’s use of Alexander-Arnold in the middle, it always felt like it would not take much for him to abandon the plan. Sure enough, Alexander-Arnold was withdrawn after 54 minutes for Gallagher.

England had taken the lead through Harry Kane’s scrambled effort and it was instructive that the goal originated from a mistake by Denmark’s Victor Kristiansen, who was hoodwinked down England’s right by Kyle Walker. Morten Hjulmand equalised with a shot from distance after a mistake from Kane, who was withdrawn after 69 minutes and replaced by Ollie Watkins. The England captain had swapped passes with Bellingham only once.

• Jonathan Northcroft: Denmark v England: A sorry mess of tired bodies and tangled minds

England’s pressing had disintegrated by that point and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, exerted such control on the proceedings for Denmark that he was named man of the match.

Match 3: June 25, group C — England 0, Slovenia 0 (4-2-3-1)

The final group C game will be remembered for some supporters hurling plastic beer cups at Southgate as he tried to acknowledge them at full-time of an anaemic goalless draw. The mood was fractious, belief had ebbed away, but England actually left the game with a template for progress.

This was the night Mainoo arrived at Euro 2024 with his introduction as a half-time substitute for Gallagher, providing Southgate with a solution to his midfield problems at the third time of asking. The 19-year-old immediately helped England play higher up the pitch.

Mainoo, who came on at half-time against Slovenia, has helped England play higher up the pitch

RYAN PIERSE/UEFA/GETTY IMAGES

• Kobbie Mainoo’s ‘scary’ rise from youth league to Euro final in 264 days

Overall, England remained too safe in their passing until the introduction of Cole Palmer and then Anthony Gordon from the substitutes’ bench. Gordon’s line-breaking pass in the closing stages fashioned a chance for Palmer, whose positive impact late in matches would become a feature of future games.

Match 4: June 30, round of 16 — England 2, Slovakia 1, after extra time (4-2-3-1)

England stepped back from the brink. Trailing to Ivan Schranz’s 25th-minute goal, Southgate’s side were 30 seconds from humiliation when Walker launched a long throw-in, Guéhi flicked on and Bellingham’s overhead kick saved the day. It was England’s first goal from a set piece and they did not have to wait long for the second, with Kane scoring in extra time after being teed up by Ivan Toney. The Brentford striker had come on with a minute of normal time remaining and had also blocked off Slovakia’s Norbert Gyomber for the equaliser.

How England played in the additional 30 minutes was key, with Southgate switching to a back three. Tactical flexibility had been evident in the individual as well as the collective. Saka, for example, started the game on the right before moving to left back, left wingback and then right wingback.

Match 5: July 6, quarter-final — England 1, Switzerland 1, 5-3 on pens (3-4-2-1)

A change in personnel was enforced due to Guéhi’s suspension, with Ezri Konsa making his full tournament debut as a left-sided centre back in a three-man rearguard. The switch in system matched Switzerland but after four largely listless displays the need to try something different was obvious.

There were numerous benefits, with Foden now towards the right, Saka was able to get one-on-one and torment the left back, Michel Aebischer, and John Stones started to come out of defence more with the ball. England were stationed higher up the pitch.

Toney scores his penalty against Switzerland without even looking at the ball — as England’s newfound prowess in shoot-outs took them to the sem-final

ADAM DAVY/PA

Saka’s goal cancelled out Breel Embolo’s opener and there was a first sighting of Luke Shaw after his painstaking recovery from a hamstring injury. He replaced Konsa in the 78th minute and was soon overlapping from centre back. Ultimately, England’s penalty prowess, both in execution and Pickford’s uncanny knack of thwarting opponents, proved the difference.

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Match 6: July 10, semi-final — England 2, Netherlands 1 (3-4-2-1)

The long wait for a cohesive performance from England was finally realised. Their resilience and character was clear as they once again recovered after falling behind, Xavi Simons striking from distance for the Dutch.

Yet, with Guéhi back in the defence after his ban and the 3-4-2-1 system in place, England flourished. Kane’s penalty brought parity and they pressed well, transitioned quickly and Mainoo’s passing was more progressive. Foden, in particular, revelled in the formation, seeing a shot cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries and striking a post from distance.

A pinpoint finish from the substitute Watkins in the semi-final took England to their first overseas final of a major tournament

CRYSTAL PIX/MB MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES

An injury to Kieran Trippier led to him being replaced by Shaw at half-time and there was a period in the second half when the Netherlands exerted control. Ronald Koeman brought on Wout Weghorst for Donyell Malen at the interval but it was England’s substitutes who, once again, had the biggest impact.

Southgate’s pre-tournament prediction that the strength in depth he possessed would be a telling factor rang true with Palmer, who replaced Foden, linking with Watkins, on for Kane, in the 90th minute. The Aston Villa striker’s sweet, sweet finish helped England create history by reaching a first overseas final of a major tournament.

• Jonathan Northcroft: Analysing Ollie Watkins’s strike: a wonder goal in nine acts

Match 7: Sunday, final – England v Spain (predicted: 3-4-2-1)

So on to Berlin. Southgate must decide between Trippier or Shaw at left wingback but otherwise he has found a formula. Only Jordan Pickford, Rice and Kane will start against Spain in the same positions as they started against Serbia 28 days earlier. Evolution has brought England to the cusp of glory.

Spain v England

European Championships final, Olympiastadion Berlin
Sunday, kick-off 8pm
TV BBC 1/ITV