Gareth Southgate, the charismatic manager of England's football team, is brimming with confidence as his squad edges closer to making history at Euro 2024. After not having reached a final at an international tournament on foreign soil before, England is now on the brink of a monumental achievement.
The Three Lions are set to face the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semifinals in Dortmund, Germany, with a spot in the final against Spain hanging in the balance. Despite the intense competition, England has shown remarkable resilience, winning knockout games against Switzerland and Slovakia in extra time, even after conceding early goals.
“There's been a definite shift. I was really interested [because] as a coach sometimes you take a step back and you observe,” Southgate shared when discussing whether England is ready to peak at the tournament’s climax. He emphasized the team’s growth over the past seven or eight years, highlighting a reduction in fear and inhibition. “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.”
Reflecting on England’s rich history, Southgate reminded fans of the 1966 FIFA World Cup victory and the 2019 Euro final appearance, both held at Wembley Stadium. This time, the stakes are higher as England aims for a final away from home.
Despite facing criticism for a cautious playing style and underutilizing talents like Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, Southgate has made strategic adjustments, such as repositioning Phil Foden in the midfield against Switzerland. Although this change didn’t yield immediate results, it underscores Southgate’s commitment to evolving the team’s strategy.
“I'm not sure any of the messaging changed but I just felt the group changed. You're now into that moment in the tournament where it's 'what's possible, what's achievable', rather than 'what might go wrong,'” Southgate explained. “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 semifinal between England and the Netherlands marks their 23rd meeting, with England securing six victories and the Netherlands seven, while nine matches have ended in draws. Their last Euro encounter was in 1996, with England triumphing 4-1 during the group stage.
As England prepares for this crucial match, fans around the world are rallying behind the team, hoping to witness history in the making.
After not having reached a final at an international tournament on foreign soil before, England is now on the brink of a monumental achievement.
