England Struggling in Midfield at Euro 2024, Says Southgate
Manager Gareth Southgate has admitted that England is facing midfield struggles at Euro 2024 and has not found a suitable replacement for Kalvin Phillips. The team recently drew 1-1 with Denmark, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the last 16. However, Southgate’s side failed to maintain control of the match, similar to their 1-0 win over Serbia. Phillips, who played a significant role in England’s run to the European Championship final in 2021, was not selected for Germany after struggling to feature at Manchester City and having a disappointing loan spell with West Ham.
Another player left out of the 26-man squad is Jordan Henderson, who played a crucial role in England’s 2018 World Cup campaign. Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold, typically an attacking right-back, has been partnered with Arsenal’s Declan Rice in midfield for England’s two games in the tournament. However, Alexander-Arnold was substituted early in the second half against Denmark, and England struggled without a natural replacement for Phillips.
Southgate acknowledged the challenges they face in midfield and the need for improvement. He stated, “At the moment, we’re not flowing as we would like. It’s an experiment – we don’t have a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips.” The manager also expressed disappointment with England’s performances, emphasizing the need to use the ball better and avoid losing possession easily.
England’s Struggles in Euro 2024
In their match against Denmark, Harry Kane gave England an early lead with his first goal of the tournament. However, Denmark equalized later in the first half with a long-range strike. Despite hitting the post through Phil Foden, England couldn’t find a winning goal. Southgate acknowledged the team’s poor performances and stressed the need to improve.
Southgate believes that England has work to do, particularly in pressuring teams playing in a back three. He identified difficulties in getting pressure on opponents and not keeping possession well enough as part of the problem. However, he remains optimistic about the team’s potential to reach another level and learn from their experiences.
England captain Harry Kane echoed Southgate’s sentiments, acknowledging that there are no easy games in tournament football. He emphasized the team’s objective of qualifying for the last 16 and expressed confidence in their ability to improve. Kane highlighted the team’s previous experience in the Euros, where they drew with Scotland but eventually reached the final.
Looking Ahead and Taking the Positives
Despite the disappointment surrounding England’s performances, defender Kyle Walker emphasized the positives. He stated that the team is still undefeated and sitting at the top of their group. Walker believes that England has enough quality to score goals and defend effectively as a team. He urged his teammates to focus on the next game against Slovenia, aiming to take the positives and secure a win.
Walker also reminded everyone that tournament football is not about steamrolling teams but about facing challenges and earning victories. He recognized Denmark as a strong opponent and emphasized the need to respect them. The defender remains confident in England’s ability to perform better in the upcoming matches.
Denmark’s Perspective and Christian Eriksen’s Remarks
From Denmark’s perspective, midfielder Christian Eriksen felt that his team should have been the ones to win the match against England. Despite acknowledging England’s exceptional players, Eriksen believed that Denmark had more opportunities to secure a victory. He expressed disappointment over the draw but remained focused on their final group stage match against Serbia, where they need a win to progress.
In Conclusion
England’s struggles in midfield at Euro 2024 have become apparent, with manager Gareth Southgate admitting the team lacks a natural replacement for Kalvin Phillips. Despite drawing against Denmark, England remains in a strong position to qualify for the last 16. However, Southgate and the team are aware of the need to improve their performances, particularly in terms of ball retention and creating pressure on opponents. Captain Harry Kane emphasized the team’s objective of qualification and expressed confidence in their ability to reach another level. Defender Kyle Walker urged his teammates to focus on the positives and recognized the challenges of tournament football. Denmark’s Christian Eriksen believed his team should have won against England but remains focused on their final group stage match.