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Euro 2020 Semifinal Roundup: Chelsea’s two sons make the final

By Travis Tyler

Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Chelsea's English midfielder Mason Mount (L) during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Chelsea at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on February 7, 2021. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Chelsea's Italian midfielder Jorginho (2nd L) celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Chelsea's English midfielder Mason Mount (L) during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Chelsea at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on February 7, 2021. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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TOPSHOT – England’s midfielder Mason Mount(L) plays the ball with Croatia’s midfielder Luka Modric during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group D football match between England and Croatia at Wembley Stadium in London on June 13, 2021. (Photo by Frank Augstein / POOL / AFP) (Photo by FRANK AUGSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – England’s midfielder Mason Mount(L) plays the ball with Croatia’s midfielder Luka Modric during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group D football match between England and Croatia at Wembley Stadium in London on June 13, 2021. (Photo by Frank Augstein / POOL / AFP) (Photo by FRANK AUGSTEIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

England versus Denmark: Mason Mount, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, and Andreas Christensen

It was somehow a very professional yet labored performance by England against Denmark. It’s understandable why Gareth Southgate sets the team up like he does and rotates so little. His English team is a very finely balanced system and any deviation from that can risk tipping the scales. It’s a lot like France in many ways: tons of attacking talent that they shackle for a better team effort.

Mason Mount was the only Chelsea starter as he continued his somewhat awkward role of being a pressing 10. Given England play mostly down the flanks, sticking Mount central was always bound to stifle his ability to create. A midfield pivot of Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice behind him and Harry Kane constantly dropping out of position due to a lack of service only further alienated Mount. With the way England currently set up, Mount’s role is mainly to be the first presser and to disrupt any build up. He does fantastically at that, but like most of England it feels like he’s being played in second gear.

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Neither Ben Chilwell nor Reece James played which is again less about them and likely more about Southgate having such a finely balanced tactic. It will be interesting to see how much Southgate experiments before the World Cup but it seems pretty clear that he will pick an XI (plus or minus one) in a tournament and stick by them throughout.

Andreas Christensen had a busy and good game opposite England and Chelsea was so close to getting out of the Euros without an injury. But Christensen did get injured and had to come off. Denmark fell apart a bit after that as they lost a key outlet from the back and arguably their most reliable defender. The Danes can be very proud of the tournament they’ve put together and Christensen was one of their best players.

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