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Former England captain Tony Adams says England could benefit from a long ball approach at the beginning of their game against Wales.
The Three Lions take on Wales in their final 2022 World Cup group match on Tuesday. They go into the game top of Group B on four points.
England urged to go long for first 10 minutes
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Gareth Southgate’s side thrashed Iran 6-2, but then played out a disappointing 0-0 draw with the USA. And ex-England defender Adams has suggested that going long in the opening 10 minutes could help to unsettle Wales.
“We might benefit from playing the occasional long ball too,” said Adams, as reported by the Daily Mail. “Teams have got out of the habit, believing you have to keep tight possession all the time.
“But a well-hit long pass – not just a hoof down the field – can work wonders unsettling the opposition and putting them on the back foot.
“Jordan Pickford is good at it and so are Harry Maguire and John Stones. What’s wrong with pinging one up there for Bukayo Saka to run on to?
“Going with a few 60-yarders would be my tactic for the first 10 minutes against Wales. Get them running backwards and push onto them. Let’s get them panicking from the off.”
Adams would ‘love playing against Harry Kane’
Adams also noted how he would love to be playing against Harry Kane, given how ineffective the striker has been in Qatar.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker played 75 minutes in the opening win over Iran, but failed to score in the 6-2 victory. He also failed to find the back of the net in the goalless draw against the USA, where he played the entire match.
Adams says while England desperately need Kane, the striker needs to stop dropping so deep and start getting into the box if he is to have any success.
“Honestly, if I was a defender at this World Cup I would absolutely love playing against Harry Kane,” said Adams.
“He doesn’t get in behind the defence and he doesn’t face you up. He’s a link player who is going deeper and deeper to get the ball.
“We need Harry Kane, he is obviously one of the best strikers in the world, you only have to look at his numbers, but if I was a centre-back up against him in Qatar I’d have a cigar on.”
England need Kane in the box
Adams, who represented England for 13 years, added that Kane needs players working well around him.
Comparing the Spurs forward to ex-Newcastle striker Alan Shearer, Adams noted that Kane must link up with his teammates before getting into the box as much as possible.
“Harry’s 29 now and isn’t going to get any quicker so, like Shearer, he needs players to feed him,” said Adams.
“Where I want to see Harry is on the edge of the box, holding the ball up, pivoting and laying it off the way Shearer could do and Alan Smith did for us at Arsenal.
“Then he has to get in the penalty area and hope we finally start putting some crosses in. That’s where I want to see him, not 10 yards inside his own half. He’s no good to anyone there.”
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