This Week in Stats: England’s World Cup preparations are on track

England beat Netherlands 1-0 with a Jesse Lingard goal, and then drew 1-1 with Italy at Wembley. How are they shaping up ahead of the World Cup?

England’s friendly double header against European giants who won’t be at the World Cup began with a 1-0 win over the Netherlands.

This was the Three Lions’ first victory in Amsterdam since 1969, and their first against the Oranje anywhere since 1996. That sounds impressive, but this is the Netherlands’ poorest side for a very long time.

Gareth Southgate has now lead England for 16 matches, yet he has already utilized six different starting formations. In both matches this week he opted for a 3-1-4-2. The Tottenham pair of Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose were charged with providing width at wing-back on Friday.

Both put in poor crosses from promising positions, though, and will need to improve. One of Rose’s eight unsuccessful crosses did at least lead to England’s goal, but better goalkeeping by Jeroen Zoet would’ve kept out Jesse Lingard’s shot.

Yet it was Bas Dost of the Netherlands who had the match’s only clear-cut chance. Memphis Depay, who played half of the home team’s 10 key passes, sent in a corner but Dost’s header went over the bar.

Fifty-seven goals in the Portuguese league over the last two seasons is one thing, but Dost only has one in 18 matches for the Netherlands. Still, he should’ve done better, and Jordan Pickford was hesitant when he should’ve punched the ball clear.

However, the Everton No. 1 had a decent match overall, and appears to be the ball playing goalkeeper England need. He played a small but key part in the goal by racing out and playing a swift pass.

One player who did have a game to forget was Jamie Vardy. He came on midway through the second half, yet didn’t touch the ball once. The Netherlands may have been chasing the match during his time on the pitch, but that’s still a remarkable achievement in being uninvolved. Better was to come for the Leicester man on Tuesday.

VAR steals the show as Italy draw at Wembley

Where the Netherlands let England play out from the back, Italy were far more pro-active at Wembley on Tuesday. Luigi Di Biagio’s side pressed from the front, and within two minutes John Stones made a defensive error which lead to a shot for Ciro Immobile.

The Lazio striker then had the first clear-cut chance of the evening. Antonio Candreva sent in the best cross of the whole match, only to see Immobile head over.

England then came into the match themselves, and also created chances by winning the ball in the attacking third. After Jamie Vardy perhaps should’ve scored, he put the hosts in front with his second shot of the match.

After Raheem Sterling was fouled, Jesse Lingard was switched on and took the free-kick quickly. He played in Vardy, who fired home. The goal was briefly referred to the VAR, but was allowed to stand. The shot proved to be England’s only clear-cut chance across the two friendlies.

The second half of the match had passed off with more substitutions than incidents, until six minutes from time. James Tarkowski, on his England debut, was adjudged to have fouled Federico Chiesa in the box.

However, the penalty was only awarded after referee Deniz Aytekin consulted the VAR. Lorenzo Insigne slammed the spot kick home, and Italy had their first goal in four matches.

It will be interesting to see how much influence video refs have at the World Cup this summer. The soccer world waits with baited breath.

Next: Argentina's Messi situation

How are England shaping up ahead of the World Cup?

England’s main source of creativity was Raheem Sterling, who set up four chances against the Dutch, and three against Italy. However, the Manchester City man remains curiously impotent in front of goal for England, and it’s something Southgate needs to address urgently.

Sterling is the Premier League’s fourth top scorer in 2017-18, and Harry Kane is the only Englishman with more Champions League goals this season. Yet the City man hasn’t scored for his country in his last 19 appearances.

Southgate has now gone with a back three for five matches straight, so it appears to be here to stay. Assuming it is, England will use three at the back in a tournament for the first time in 20 years. The formation enables them to keep the ball better than they have tended to in the past.

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The England manager should be rightly proud that his side have have only conceded one goal in their last six matches. This includes games with Germany and Brazil as well as these two friendlies, so the standard of opposition has been pretty good.

But they have only scored four goals in those matches themselves. Harry Kane has either scored or assisted over a third of England’s goals under Southgate. On the evidence of these matches, Kane needs to be fit for the World Cup, else England may struggle for goals.

The real winner this week though was Jesse Lingard. With a goal and assist in his first two international starts of the season, the Manchester United man will have secured his spot on the plane to Russia.