ENGLAND have hit out at critics, explaining that through patient, cautious exploratory manoeuvres they believe they have ascertained exactly where the goal is.
After three group games, the team believe it is definitely at the narrow end of the pitch and in the next game plan to test a hypothesis that kicking a ball into it would have a positive effect.
Manager Gareth Southgate said: “It’s not as clear-cut as it might seem. In three games we’ve scored two goals, but only the first one led to a win.
“Last night we decided it was better not even to risk scoring which saw us top the group and go through. And so did Slovenia, proving that goals aren’t necessary in the modern game and may even be damaging.
“Still, in a series of guarded forays forward, always ready to pass back to our own half on even a hint of a challenge, we definitively established where the goal is for future matches and if circumstances allow we might even attempt to score.
“No promises though. If I’m a manager of anything it’s expectations.”
