Gareth Southgate gives worrying reason why England players aren’t performing well at Euro 2024
After the start of the Euros, ever die-hard footy fan was eagerly waiting what the England team would dish out, only to be left scratching their heads.
It’s no surprise that football fans are disappointed in how the national team are doing after an uninspiring start to the 2024 Euros, which kicked off on the 14 June.
Having won 1-0 against Serbia, things had the potential to get better until Denmark’s carelessness which resulted in faux passes and honestly, a boring watch.
But England’s manager Gareth Southgate has suggested there’s a reason his team isn’t performing as they should be.
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Not only did Southgate know something was wrong, but it didn’t take long until droves of footy fans took to social media to hash out their frustrations.
One said: “I know he's been injured, but why take off the only offensive threat in the 69th minute? He didn't look tired.
"England best player today in a horrible tactical disasterclass from Southgate.”
Jokes aside, something isn’t right here and Southgate cleared the air.
Even though Morten Hjulmand saved us with an equaliser for the Danish match, there are those who are worried about what the Slovenia match will hold and if it’s enough to qualify for the knockout stages as group winners.
But it could all be down to the players and their fitness.
Southgate revealed: “We are not pressing well enough, with enough intensity. We have limitations in how we can do that with the physical condition.
“We can’t press as high up the pitch as we might have done in the qualifiers, for example. And we are not keeping the ball well enough. We have to keep the ball better and build with more control.”
This was evident when Kane struggled against the Danish and ended up off the pitch after 70 minutes along with two other players, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka.
Southgate continued: “I am seeing every day that they are loving working together.
“I don’t think it is a lack of spark. At the moment, they ironically care too much and they need firm leadership.
“We have to guide them through the difficult period that is coming but really stay on track and focused on this challenge ahead.
“We are trying to do something that has never been done before [win the Euros]. So that is going to be a bit of a rollercoaster.
“It’s not going to go smoothly when you are trying to achieve extraordinary things. They are bloody difficult. We have to accept the level of expectations, we have to accept the arena we are in. And we have to find a better way of playing to how we have so far.”
Britt Jones