Kosovo showed why people have been showering praise on them while Mick McCarthy has plenty to think about
Kosovo came into their match against England second in Group A and being talked up by everyone, Gareth Southgate included, as dangerous opponents. It didn’t feel that way by half-time with the hosts leading 5-1, but Kosovo came out not only fighting but reorganised, and gave England an actual scare. Valon Berisha was the stand-out, bagging a well-taken double, but forward Vedat Muriqi provided strength and awareness (not to mention the whipped left foot pass that split England’s defence for Berisha’s second) while Swansea’s Bersant Celina added guile. Perhaps the pivotal contribution, however, came from coach Bernard Challandes. His switch to 4-4-2 put England’s creaky centre-backs under more pressure than they had endured in the opening period, and it made the difference to a second half in which Kosovo lived up to their billing. Paul MacInnes
Written by Guardian sport
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/sep/11/international-football-10-talking-points-from-the-latest-round-of-games under the title “International football: 10 talking points from the latest round of games”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
