Road to the Round of 16
Warren Barton experienced a rollercoaster of emotions watching England play DR Congo, from elation to frustration, but ultimately relief as Harry Kane scored twice to secure a 2-1 win.
Barton noted that the match was 'a slog' and 'a really, really tough game,' but England's victory sets up a showdown with Mexico in the round of 16 at Mexico City Stadium, a venue that will provide El Tri with a significant home-field advantage.
Three Keys to Success
Barton identified three key areas where England must improve to beat Mexico: defending better, particularly at right back, taking care of the ball and passing it more precisely in midfield, and freeing up Harry Kane to unlock his full potential.
Barton emphasized the need for England to defend solidly, citing the inexperience of 25-year-old Djed Spence, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, and the potential return of Reece James, who has been sidelined with a hamstring issue.
'Spence is a young player, [and he] really burst onto the [English Premier League] with Tottenham this season,' Barton said. 'If you spoke before that, was he going to go to a World Cup? There wasn't any talk of that, and it was only really in the last three months. So it's a lot of pressure and responsibility on such a young player.'
Barton also stressed the importance of taking care of the ball and passing it more precisely in midfield, noting that England needs to be more aggressive and progressive in their play.
'You [saw manager] Thomas Tuchel [Wednesday] was very much animated about playing progressive soccer,' Barton observed. 'He doesn't like the side-to-side possession. [Elliot] Anderson or [Declan] Rice — that's where we got that chance earlier on with Harry Kane.'
Finally, Barton highlighted the need to free up Harry Kane, who has five goals in the World Cup so far, and unlock his full potential. 'Just get Harry Kane the ball, getting it across, keep him engaged in the game as much as possible because he will score goals — there's no doubt about that,' Barton said.
