England's senior players have concerns with manager Sven Goran Eriksson's tactics after his substitutions in Saturday's 1-0 win over Paraguay.
The Guardian says Eriksson, it is claimed, took his players by surprise, having reconfigured the side in a way that had not been spoken about or worked on during what was an extensive period of experimentation in the games leading up to the tournament.
The main talking point was the introduction of Stewart Downing for Michael Owen, with Joe Cole moved into a more advanced position to play just behind Peter Crouch. Cole stated yesterday that he is happy to occupy such a role but it has been noted elsewhere in the England camp that he had not been tried out in this position in the friendlies against Hungary and Jamaica or, indeed, when the players have been working on their formations in training.
There is understood to be consternation among England's defenders that they are not receiving enough protection from the team's midfield. Sol Campbell raised the issue after the Jamaica game and Rio Ferdinand brought it up again in Frankfurt on Saturday.
The Guardian says Eriksson, it is claimed, took his players by surprise, having reconfigured the side in a way that had not been spoken about or worked on during what was an extensive period of experimentation in the games leading up to the tournament.
The main talking point was the introduction of Stewart Downing for Michael Owen, with Joe Cole moved into a more advanced position to play just behind Peter Crouch. Cole stated yesterday that he is happy to occupy such a role but it has been noted elsewhere in the England camp that he had not been tried out in this position in the friendlies against Hungary and Jamaica or, indeed, when the players have been working on their formations in training.
There is understood to be consternation among England's defenders that they are not receiving enough protection from the team's midfield. Sol Campbell raised the issue after the Jamaica game and Rio Ferdinand brought it up again in Frankfurt on Saturday.
