Meet the new 55-minute England collapse, not the same as the old 55-minute England collapse
Writing for The Guardian after England's Nations League fixture against Spain on 27 September 2026, columnist Barney Ronay argues that England's habit of late-game collapse has resurfaced in a new guise. Rather than the familiar 55-minute decline seen under previous setups, the current version carries its own tactical and psychological fingerprints. The piece blends match observation with cultural commentary on how England continue to find inventive ways to unravel after the hour mark against elite opposition.
Read the full story at theguardian.comRonay's column lands at a moment when England's identity under their current setup is being openly questioned. By contrasting the 'new' collapse with the 'old' one, he is suggesting that simply changing personnel around the squad has not changed the underlying volatility when Spain apply sustained pressure. For readers, it is a reminder that England's results against top-tier opposition continue to expose structural fragility that goes beyond any single lineup choice or result.
Context added by Socc360, not by theguardian.com.
Data source: theguardian.com (via Socc360). Last updated .
Never miss a moment.
Live scores, goal alerts and Live Activities on your Lock Screen — get Socc360 for iOS.