[The once and future king]

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England played 4-4-2 virtually 100% of the time under Sven in what I would suggest was not a 'continental' fashion. In the big games where England failed (France, Brazil) I'm pretty sure Sven didn't tell the players to kick away posession with aimless long balls while they were defending a lead.

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Yes but in those games, Sven reigned in the natural English tendency to keep attacking even though you have the lead, and replaced it with continental caution and rationalism. What you had in the end was a bastard child of a continental strategic approach (go 1 nil up shut up shop) applied with English tactics and ability (long ball) and hence dreary boring football.

The last decent English game to watch was against Argentina and before than when we beat Germany 5-1, both games in which the passions of the players overcame the caution of the manager.