Tyrone Mings wants England to embrace 'dark arts' to win Euro 2020 despite Southgate worry
Tyrone Mings feels England need to be better versed in the “dark arts” if they are to go deep into the tournament this summer. The 28-year-old Aston Villa defender relishes in a no-nonsense reputation which belongs to a more old-fashioned version of the game.
But even with VAR, he insists there are modern ways to get the upper hand in games by bending the games which England’s rivals are more than happy to use against us.
“Being streetwise is a huge part of the game,” he said. “You look at other nations and they are masters at the dark arts – staying on the floor for longer than needed, delaying restarts.”
Manager Gareth Southgate has already called for discipline from his players to avoid dangerous free-kicks and unsettling suspensions.
But Mings explained that a few subtle acts are not just about giving your own team an advantage, but upsetting your opponents by what can be critical degrees.
“Being streetwise is also sometimes what gets you over the edge because it winds up the opposition and breaks up their flow and their rhythm,” he said.
