Gareth Southgate, the manager of the England men’s football team, has emphasized the importance of not taking wins at major tournaments for granted. As England prepares to face Denmark at Euro 2024, Southgate acknowledges that while fans may have criticized their 1-0 win over Serbia, winning matches in tournaments is incredibly difficult.
Southgate, who has been in the football environment for eight years, understands the impossibly high standards set by supporters. He admits that he used to be annoyed by the criticism but has now become ambivalent towards it. He believes that even England may take their results for granted at times and hopes that the players can enjoy their victories more than he does.
However, Southgate remains focused on the task at hand – getting qualified from the group stage. He recognizes that they have two tough opponents to face and two games to achieve their goal. While there should be more joy in winning, it is not his reality. His primary concern is ensuring his team performs well in the tournament.
Dealing with criticism is one of the hardest aspects of the England football environment, according to Southgate. It’s not just about playing against opponents; it’s about managing everything that comes with representing England. This includes external pressures and expectations that can be overwhelming at times.
In their opening game against Serbia, England took an early lead through Jude Bellingham’s header but struggled to maintain control in the second half. Southgate acknowledges that they need to improve their performance, especially considering they will be facing the same opponent they met in the Euro 2020 semi-finals.
Despite the challenges, Southgate commends his players for starting the game exceptionally well and defending brilliantly. He believes that having a game under their belt will benefit them moving forward. He also highlights the emotional pressure that young players face in such moments, emphasizing that it is something people may not fully understand.
Unfortunately, England will be without defender Luke Shaw in the upcoming match against Denmark. Shaw has not fully recovered from his hamstring injury and will need more time to regain fitness. Southgate confirms that Shaw is working on his own program to recover and hopes to have him back in action soon.
In summary, Southgate’s comments highlight the difficulty of winning matches in major tournaments and the unique challenges faced by the England national team. He urges his players and fans alike to appreciate the victories while acknowledging the high expectations that come with representing England. With improvements needed for their upcoming match against Denmark, Southgate remains focused on guiding his team to success at Euro 2024.