Five things we learned from England’s defeat to France

The latest installment of England’s life under Gareth Southgate was hardly a productive one. After a close-run draw against rivals Scotland the week prior, the Three Lions were undone by a talented France side in June.

A much-changed England team took the lead at the Stade de France after Kieran Trippier found Harry Kane.

Samuel Umtiti equalised and Les Bleus made it 2-1 before the interval when Djibril Sidibe slotted the ball home.

The visitors were awarded a penalty which Harry Kane dispatched with confidence but the hosts came out on top when Dembele scored 12 minutes from time.

The game provided plenty of talking points for Southgate to mull over before the national team play Malta in September, Accumulator Tips look at five.

Football is rightly secondary to tragedy

This friendly fixture was a much-needed distraction from the disastrous events that have unfolded in the United Kingdom over the couple of months. While those in attendance were there to watch a football match, the events in Manchester and London were paid an emotional tribute prior to kick-off.

The players walked onto the pitch to Oasis’ iconic Don’t Look Back in Anger and the French fans, just as their English counterparts had done at Wembley in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, sang both national anthems. A minutes silence was also well observed.

It is important to remember that football is secondary to tragedy and, with May and Macron in attendance, football paid its respects.

Kane could be England captain going forward

With Wayne Rooney’s international career slowly grinding to a halt, the issue of selecting a new permanent England captain falls on Gareth Southgate’s shoulders. While there are many candidates, the manager selected Spurs striker Harry Kane to lead the team out in France.

Kane has been in tremendous form for club and country of late. The 24-year-old has now scored 11 in his last five matches after a brace in Paris and an equaliser during the World Cup Qualifier – England are 1/12 to win their group with Sky Bet – in Glasgow just days earlier.

With eight goals in his last 19 appearances for England, Kane is a mature professional that leads by example on the pitch with his goals and performances. Already vice-captain to Hugo Lloris at Tottenham, it appears the former Leicester loanee has all the attributes to captain his country for years to come.

VAR needs some fine-tuning

Like goalline technology, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) seems to be a welcome addition to the game. The implementation of VAR is appearing to be more problematic, however, and this was showcased when England’s penalty was awarded.

Italian referee Davide Massa blew for a penalty after Raphael Varane brought down Delle Ali in the box. After counsel from his assistant who was working with the VAR supervisor, a spot kick was awarded and Varane was subsequently sent off.

While it might have indeed been a penalty, the doubt and indecision that VAR was partly created to defuse was not avoided in the slightest.

France’s young guns a force to be reckoned with

French football’s current golden generation continue to impress on the world stage. While there remains doubt over Didier Deschamps’ leadership from some sections of France supporters, fans are surely relishing the level of talent they have at their disposal.

The French started with the world’s most expensive player and the PFA Player of the Year in midfield with a selection of wonderkids, including Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, also starring for the hosts.

After the disappointment of a European Championship final defeat on home soil, the future seems bright across the English Channel with so many players still in the early stages of their promising careers.

Under the right circumstances, they could be a real force when the World Cup starts next summer. William Hill certainly think so and have France at 8/1 to win next summer’s tournament.

Goalkeepers not getting help they require

After a scrutinising week for Joe Hart, Tom Heaton and Jack Butland were given an opportunity between the sticks.

The two, competing for Hart’s now fragile spot in goal, fared adequately on the night but still conceded on three occasions – Heaton twice and Butland once.

Heaton’s misfortunes were not down to his initial saves falling to the feet of French players but due to some incompetent defending from his team-mates.

Giroud was allowed a free header in the box before Umtiti tapped the ball past Heaton while Dembele’s trickery humiliated the defence just prior to Sidibe’s goal.  

A poor pass from Gary Cahill again left Butland exposed to an effort from Mbappe but, after John Stones could do nothing to stop the shot, the ball fortuitously rebounded off the crossbar.

Southgate needs to first locate the right defensive personnel for the system he wishes to play before the performances of his goalkeepers can improve.