England wobble but Djed Spence and John Stones make case for the defence

Tuchel’s half-time changes and Pickford’s skittishness lifted Norway, but backline finally rose to occasion

England were back in Azteca mode in the end. Big Dan Burn was on to thump those headers away. Reece James and the magnificent Djed Spence were covering the flanks, Elliot Anderson was taking care of midfield on his own and the problem for Norway was that the hulking figure leading their attack was no longer on the pitch as they tried to find a way through England’s back five at the end of extra time in Miami.

It would be a push to call this a tactical or defensive masterclass from Thomas Tuchel. The German made a rare misstep at half-time, handing the game to Martin Ødegaard when the unwell Declan Rice had to go off, and spent the rest of the second half trying to correct his mistake. First James had to come on for Anthony Gordon, depriving England of one of their main counterattacking outlets as a sense of dread took over, and it was only when the counterpressing of Morgan Rogers was added to the midfield mix that a semblance of order was restored.

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