It seems to be baffling Southgate, who said after the game that this was not part of the plan.
“No,” he said, when asked whether he tells the team to drop deep after scoring.
“I think we’ve played teams that are quite fluid in back threes and it’s not easy to get pressure on them, but we’ve got to do that better than we have in these last two matches. Not keeping the ball has been another problem.”
When it comes to England keeping the ball, Southgate’s selection will be questioned.
Trent Alexander-Arnold struggled to impact play against Serbia, and was utterly swamped here.
Absent were the quarterback passes Southgate would have hoped for – instead he was overwhelmed and eventually withdrawn after 54 minutes for Conor Gallagher.
If the Trent project has failed, Southgate must assess options – Gallagher to start against Slovenia? Bellingham to drop deep? Time to trust Kobbie Mainoo or Adam Wharton?
Southgate faces having to experiment in a live tournament – a boom or bust scenario.
“Alexander-Arnold has come into the midfield to add a creative element. I think Southgate expected to be more dominant in possession where Trent would be found in more offensive situations where he could utilise his right foot,” former England defender Izzy Christiansen told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“What I would say as a consideration is playing someone else alongside Declan Rice such as Mainoo, or dropping Bellingham deeper.
“Could you put Trent at left-back because Kieran Trippier hasn’t been outstanding?”
On the balance of England’s midfield, Ferdinand added: “I would put Declan Rice in the six, Jude Bellingham in the eight running from deep and Phil Foden in the free role as the 10. I think that is how you will get the best of these players.”