Sport
Nothing about England’s performance against Slovakia was befitting of tournament favourites. Indeed, the 120 minutes of Sunday’s round of 16 match was a slog for Gareth Southgate’s team. Until Jude Bellingham’s stoppage time equaliser, they were heading home from Euro 2024. Fans are entitled to expect better of such a talented group of players.
Southgate is under intense scrutiny for the tactics he has employed in Germany this summer. He has been stubborn in many of his team selections and was slow to make changes from the bench when Sunday’s match against Slovakia appeared to be getting away from England. The 53-year-old has done nothing to quell doubts about his managerial ability.
And yet England’s dramatic comeback victory from 1-0 down highlighted why they could still win Euro 2024. This tournament could still end with The Three Lions lifting their first piece of silverware since 1966. Southgate isn’t offering much on the touchline, but England still boast some of the best players in the world.
Bellingham and Harry Kane saved England against Slovakia and they, along with the likes of Phil Foden, Declan Rice, Cole Palmer and others, could carry the rest of the team all the way to the final. The system might not be there to make England more than the sum of their parts, but the quality of the individual parts still make them a formidable opponent.
Both Bellingham and Kane have failed to find their best form at Euro 2024 with the pair struggling for influence in matches. Some have speculated they are exhausted from a long season at club level. However, the duo have the strength of will needed to provide big moments in major tournaments, as they did on Sunday.
Over a full league season, England’s lack of coherence and weakness on the ball would cost them. In an international tournament like Euro 2024, though, individual talent could be enough to drag them through matches, with a quarter-final against Switzerland next up for Southgate and his players.
“We’re not naïve, we’re going to play a team who have looked outstanding not only in this tournament but for quite a while as well,” Southgate said about the challenge of facing Switzerland in the final eight. “That’s going to be a big tactical challenge for us, we know the level of our game will have to be higher.
“But there was a spirit and togetherness which has been building in each match. We’ve had a lot of problems to solve through the whole lead into the camp, through the tournament. We’re putting a plaster over different things, giving young players good opportunities, and somehow finding a way.”
While Switzerland will present a tricky test having seen off Italy in the round of 16, the draw has opened up for England. Victory over the Swiss would lead to a semi-final meeting against one of Austria, Netherlands, Romania or Turkey. England would be firm favourites against any one of those opponents. A run to the final is on the cards.
Germany and Spain have produced the most eye-catching performances at Euro 2024 so far, but they are on the other side of the bracket to England. France and Portugal are also on that side of the bracket. Southgate’s team might have to beat just one top tier team to win this tournament.
Three of the four best players at Euro 2024 are English and as long as Southgate can stay out of their way, they could drive The Three Lions towards tournament glory. The Bellingham and Kane-led comeback against Slovakia was the first hint of how England might still finish the summer as the new European champions.
