England manager Gareth Southgate admitted his team are still getting to grips with his style of play, but felt there were some very encouraging individual performances in France.
Southgate has been in charge for eight internationals, in which time England have scored 14 goals – their preference always to play on the front foot.
A change of system from 4-2-3-1 used in Hampden Park to 3-4-2-1 at the Stade de France created a new challenge for Southgate’s players, which he felt they coped well with in possession.
But he acknowledged in their eagerness to get forwards and take the game to their hosts, England perhaps left themselves too open to the counter attack and were punished by the lightning-quick French frontline.
“I think it [the formation] worked really well. It gave us good options on the ball, we moved the ball well and caused France problems with that,” Southgate said.
“But whichever system we played we had a problem with their pace and power. That raw athletic ability that France have is what makes them one of the most difficult teams to play against.
“It’s definitely something that France, at all age groups that I’ve seen, have. They are blistering and they will cause you huge problems on the counter attack if you’re not supremely well organised.
