Spain are one level above technical compared to England. England have the speed, which combined with the Iberian technique is the winning formula in English club football. But England NT doesn't have such playmaking capability, which should be regarded as a slight dig on Bellingham, he's fantastic overall midfielder. I was expecting more of him frankly, but exhaustion and issues might be the reason. He'll grow mentally, I see his PR department force him into maturity of Obama way too early.
Southgate's style is not based on control of the ball. Yesterday Pep's "clueless passing" football triumphed once again on Spain's account.
I have said it and many have said it.
The guy is in the mould of Gerrard - moments, physicality, but lacking the ability to control games, play one and two touch and in tight spaces.
It's the difference between English teams and Spanish teams generally.
It sounds simplistic but it boils down to that.
The guy is a moments player, that's fine as the Palmer goal showed. but the flip side of that is the other team will generally dominate as he cannot control a game for you (and neither will Rice or Mainoo). It's the same at Real Madrid - he fits their Moments FC counter-attack style like a glove, but he couldn't play for Pep's Barca for instance. He's not a technical, passing wizard who can evade the press. In other words he's not Rodri.
It doesn't mean he isn't a good player. It means he has flaws and limits.
That's it.
