sport news DANNY MURPHY: Gareth Southgate can stop the slump... but only if he takes risks trends now

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This is a pivotal moment for Gareth Southgate. Toothless performances and a lack of creativity so close to the World Cup have raised a lot of questions and caused real concern.

So, what does he do? Does he stick with what has, until recently, treated him so well and got England to a World Cup semi-final and a Euros final: a defensive structure and a pragmatic approach? Or does he twist? Let them off the leash, release the handbrake, take more risks. Here is my four-point plan to save Southgate’s England...

We are fortunate to be in a group in Qatar which we should win even if we play badly. But then what happens in the knockout stages? Fall back on what we’ve done in the past and hope things fall our way, or do we look to dominate our group, embrace our attacking talent and build confidence and momentum?

If we go out with a whimper in the quarter-finals against someone half-decent, on the back of another pragmatic display, Gareth will struggle to survive. Fans will accept a hard-luck story if they feel we’re progressing, we’ve been good to watch and tried to make things happen.

I’ve been a big fan of what Gareth has done, he’s achieved more than I expected. But you can never stand still. Everything has to evolve. It is time to take that risk, to twist. Sticking now could cause problems.

Everyone knows England haven’t scored from open play in more than seven hours. A lot of that is down to us being too predictable in attack. A change of system would help.

Gareth needs to go to four at the back. Few sides win tournaments playing three at the back. It’s too cautious. Four gives you more fluidity, an extra man in midfield. It would suit Jude Bellingham or

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