10 Reasons For England Fans To Be Optimistic After World Cup 2018

9. A Base To Build On

This wasn't a perfect tournament for England by any means. The final two games against top quality opposition exposed the Three Lions' weaknesses, with the team often struggling to create chances from open play and relying on set pieces to score most of their goals.

But Rome wasn't built in a day. Every good team needs a solid foundation to build on, and after years of falling at the first hurdle and crumbling away, this England squad finally seems to have established a solid base, with a lot of potential for improvement over the next few years.

After past tournaments, the focus has always been on 'rebuilding' and 'starting again', but after this World Cup, England fans can be much more hopeful. A new system has been implemented by Gareth Southgate, with a strong focus on solid defending and careful build-up play. Finally, the team has an identity and can push on from here to enjoy more success in future tournaments.

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