How does Gareth Southgate solve England’s creativity problem?

England have been relegated from their Nations League group and are on a bad run of form heading into the World Cup later this year.

We’ve taken a look into England’s problems and how Southgate could go about fixing them. 

Scoring goals is an issue 

Despite the players at Southgate’s disposal, England have looked lethargic in front of goal throughout their entire Nations League campaign. 

Across the five games England have played, they have only scored one goal, which was a penalty by Harry Kane against Germany. 

From open play, England currently have a huge problem with hitting the back of the net. 

Throughout this Nations League campaign, England have taken 62 shots from open play and have accumulated an xG of 5.4, which should equate to around one goal per game. 

England have massively underperformed this xG though and they are the current lowest scorers in League A. 

Southgate’s side have taken an average of 12.4 shots per game and averaged 1.08 xG per 90. 

For context, 13 Premier League teams have averaged a higher xG per 90 than England have during their Nations League campaign, which is a concern. 

Southgate needs to find his front three 

There’s no doubt that Harry Kane will be leading the line for England at the World Cup, but the other two attacking spots are very much up for debate. 

Since Southgate was appointed as England manager, Kane has scored a total of 45 goals and his is now closing in on Wayne Rooney’s all-time England record. 

In the Premier League this season he has scored six goals and he brings more to the side than just goals. 

Other than Kane though, Southgate has often struggled to find the right balance in the final third. 

Take Phil Foden for example. His creative numbers at Man City are often superb, but when he is in this England set-up, he often struggles to make an impact. 

In the Premier League, Foden averaged 4.27 shot-creating actions per 90, but in an England shirt he has often failed to match those numbers. 

Raheem Sterling is usually one of Southgate’s more trusted forwards, but even he has struggled during this Nations League campaign. 

Ivan Toney would be a different option for England, although Southgate would have to switch his current system in order to accompany him and Kane together. 

The Brentford forward has earned his call-up to the side though as he has scored five Premier League goals this season and has looked sharp so far. 

Would a change of system help? 

There is the argument that Southgate’s system is more geared towards keeping things tight at the back and as a result, the attacking output decreases. 

During the Euro 2020 for example, England managed to keep things tight at the back, but weren’t exactly prolific. 

Southgate’s side have been more susceptible to conceding goals throughout the Nations League too. 

Across the five matches so far, England have conceded seven goals at a rate of 1.4 per 90. 

Four of those goals came against Hungary back in June when they dispatched England 4-0. 

England take on Germany tonight in their last game before the World Cup and Southgate could really do with a win to turn around the bad momentum currently around the squad. 

England were drawn into Group B for the World Cup and will face Iran, Wales and the USA in their group. 

Southgate’s side are one of the favourites coming into the tournament, but unless they are able to solve their current creativity problem, they will run into the same problems in Qatar. 

The Germany game will also be Southgate’s final chance to assess the squad before he has to name his final team for the tournament.