England’s performance against Slovakia in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 left much to be desired. For 95 minutes, the team struggled and it felt reminiscent of their embarrassing defeat against Iceland in Euro 2016. However, Jude Bellingham’s world-class finish saved them and provided a much-needed equalizer. It was their first shot on target, which was a disappointing statistic considering the caliber of players they have. But it was the goal that mattered.
When Harry Kane scored to put England ahead, there was hope that they would finish the game off. However, they immediately sat back and came under immense pressure. This defensive approach has become a trademark of Gareth Southgate’s England side, despite fans yearning for more attacking football. Yet, this strategy has proven successful in previous tournaments, taking them to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020. Southgate is unlikely to change his approach now.
The biggest positive from the game against Slovakia was that England found a way to win. In knockout football, performance matters less than advancing to the next round. Though they haven’t played well throughout the tournament, there has always been a “but” accompanying their poor performances. The “but” now is that they are through to the quarter-finals.
This victory could be the spark that England needs to turn their tournament around. Previous moments of brilliance have transformed England’s fortunes, such as Paul Gascoigne’s goal in Euro ’96 and David Platt’s winner in the 1990 World Cup. To replicate that success, Southgate may need to make some changes. Phil Foden’s position on the left hasn’t been effective, and experiments with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher in midfield have also failed.
Looking ahead to their match against Switzerland, England will face their toughest opponent yet. The teams they faced in their group were stubborn but lacked a significant threat. However, Switzerland is a well-organized team with quality players who have impressed in the tournament. If England performs as poorly as they did against Slovakia, they could be outclassed.
To avoid this, England must learn from their mistakes and improve significantly. Winning the tournament would overshadow their poor performances, but they need to step up their game to even have a chance. There is room for improvement, and it remains to be seen if England can rise to the challenge.
In conclusion, England’s victory against Slovakia in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 was a hard-fought one. While their performance was lackluster for most of the match, Jude Bellingham’s goal provided a much-needed spark. Gareth Southgate’s defensive approach has been criticized, but it has brought success in previous tournaments. England must now learn from their mistakes and elevate their game to overcome their upcoming challenge against Switzerland. Only time will tell if they can rise to the occasion and make a deep run in the tournament.