England are currently purring. Gareth Southgate's side stormed into the semi-final of Euro 2020 by dispatching Ukraine 4-0 on Saturday in a ruthless display that caught many an eye.
Ahead of the tournament, one of the major questions that swirled around the England manager was whether or not he had the tactical nous to lead a major side to success.
While Damien Delaney insisted England are yet to be tested and will be forced to dig deeper against Denmark than they were against Ukraine, he conceded that Southgate has proven that he is a tactically aware manager, with a deep knowledge of the game.
"I think Southgate really has something," Delaney said on The Euro 2020 Show on Monday.
"He seems to have a handle on this team. He seems to have a way of analysing opposition. He is utilising everything at his disposal.
"Whether it is three at the back, all formations, different types of players, [he is doing it]."
The job of the England manager is thankless at times. Supporters can turn in an instant, while the media consistently scrutinises the England camp, often excessively.
Picture date: Saturday July 3, 2021.Delaney accepted that if Southgate does not get it right against the Danes, this new perception of his tactical acumen can change, however, so far he has got his decisions spot on.
"If he does not start certain players and they lost, I do not think he will be able to set foot in England again," Delaney said.
"That is the fine line between [being] a genius and a lunatic."
Southgate has always struck the right tone in his discussions with the media and it is something he rightly is praised for. His ability to ensure that this England camp has been united throughout the tournament is something that has impressed Delaney.
"It is a very united camp," Delaney continued.
"I think the most important thing is the players really like Southgate and they really trust him. I think that is something he has built over the last number of years.
"He is very calm and is handling things [very well]. There is an honesty to him."
It is that honesty that the England players have responded so well to. After a lacklustre group stage, Southgate did not panic, nor did he allow the English squad to be distracted by any negative perceptions from outside the camp.
Southgate's public backing of Harry Kane
One man, in particular, has benefited from the manager's backing, Harry Kane. The captain has exploded into life in the past two games, something that Southgate can take credit for, according to Delaney.
Picture date: Saturday July 3, 2021."It shows his mentality, the type of guy he is," Delaney said of Kane.
"To be under the pressure he was under, to have people like Alan Shearer calling him out after the group stage, being the captain, the main man and you are not scoring.
"People are always going to look for holes and flaws in the England team. If you are kind of the whipping boy for a period of time it can be very difficult.
"It shows the amount of self-belief he has, the confidence he has to keep getting in the right positions, keep waiting for the chances to come along.
"Southgate knew he needed to remain patient with Kane and give him that public reassurance to take a little bit of pressure off him."
Picture date: Saturday July 3, 2021.An adaptable team
England are far from being the finished article. Their attacking play has, at times looked disjointed.
However, they seem to be peaking at the right time while showing an ability to be tactically flexible, depending on the opposition.
(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)"England are not the complete article," Delaney said.
"They are not perfect. They are decent but they are not there just yet for me.
"It is very difficult to know what Southgate is going to do. If you are preparing for England, it is very difficult depending on what they are going to be. They can be a minimum of four different shapes.
"It is very difficult to pin it down. That is one thing Southgate deserves an awful lot of credit for. He has made this team and the players extremely comfortable bouncing from one formation to another. It is very difficult to achieve. This team seems very adaptable."
England have the opportunity to reach their first major final since their World Cup victory in 1966. Whether they win the competition or not, Southgate has repudiated those who questioned his tactical awareness.
Football on Off The Ball, with Paddy Power’s SaveOurGame, Donating 10k to Irish football for every goal England score at the Euros.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
