Gareth Southgate, manager of the English national football team, believes his squad is poised to make history at Euro 2024 by reaching their first international final on foreign soil. England is set to face the Netherlands in the semifinals in Dortmund, Germany, vying for a chance to meet Spain in the final showdown.
The “Three Lions” have battled their way through the tournament, requiring extra time to overcome both Switzerland and Slovakia in the knockout stages. Notably, England conceded the first goal in both matches, raising questions about their performance despite advancing.
“There’s been a definite shift,” Southgate said when asked if he feels England is ready to peak at the climax of Euro 2024. “I was really interested [because] as a coach sometimes you take a step back and you observe. One of the strengths of us over the last seven, eight years has been less fear, less inhibition. But I think at the beginning of the tournament, the expectation weighed quite heavily and of course the external noise was louder than it’s ever been.”
England’s history in major tournaments has been mixed. They famously won the FIFA World Cup in 1966 and reached the European Championship final three years ago, only to lose to Italy in a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium in London.
Southgate has faced criticism for a perceived cautious approach, with some accusing him of not fully leveraging the talents of key players like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. Adjustments were made, such as moving Phil Foden back into the right midfield against Switzerland, but despite the victory, the changes didn’t yield the desired effect.
“I’m not sure any of the messaging changed but I just felt the group changed,” Southgate reflected. “You’re now into that moment in the tournament where it’s ‘what’s possible, what’s achievable’, rather than ‘what might go wrong.’ That’s different for players, for an athlete. So, this is now the chance to make history, which we’ve enjoyed doing that, a chance to get to a first final not held in England – the first time England will have ever done that.”
The upcoming match against the Netherlands is significant. Historically, England and the Netherlands have faced each other 22 times, with England winning six matches, the Netherlands seven, and nine ending in draws. Their last encounter at the Euros was in 1996, when England secured a memorable 4-1 victory during the group stage.
As England prepares for this crucial semifinal, fans and critics alike are eager to see if Southgate’s squad can overcome past hurdles and finally make history on foreign soil.
