Struggling England Team Fails to Convince at Euro Cup: A Closer Look

The England team before a Euro Cup match (REUTERS/Lee Smith)

England came to the European Championship with high expectations. The bets prior to the competition pointed to this being the year for the English, after 58 years without lifting a single title, this was the time to return the enthusiasm for the team to the fans and the entire country. In fact, the template lent itself to it. With some of the best players in the entire tournament on an individual level, it seemed like nothing could go wrong. And the truth is that they have managed to advance to the round of 16 as group winners, but the sensations on the pitch are very different. England does not convince, even disappoints.

The Three Lions made their debut in the competition against Serbia, with a flat game without great chances for Gareth Southgate’s men. The goal came a few minutes into the match (13′) thanks to an impeccable cross from Saka that Bellingham did not let escape and put their team ahead. That was all that was seen of England, the rest of the game was a passing of minutes, which passed without pain or glory. With the final whistle, they recorded their first three points and increased the disappointment of the spectators. They won, but they did not convince.

The next two group stage matches against Denmark and Slovenia followed the same dynamic. Against the Danes they were unable to get past the draw (1-1), while in the last match they were not even able to see the goal. That England managed to pass as first can only be explained by the fact that the team with which it shared a group were neither favorites nor, a priori, a rival for the English. Although the surprise could have occurred, as happened in group D, where it was Austria that closed the first phase at the top of the group, ahead of France and the Netherlands.

But why isn’t England convincing if they are one of the best teams if you look at the players one by one? The Three Lions, if you look at their squad one by one, there is little doubt that they are the team with the best players in the entire competition. Few countries can overshadow him on an individual level. There is not a single weak position, nor a single player with a lower level. With players of the caliber of Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Trippier, Walker, Bellingham, Foden, Cole Palmer, Rice, Saka and Harry Kane, words are unnecessary, but actions are lacking.

England player Jude Bellingham (REUTERS/Lee Smith)

One of the weak points that the English can improve on is possession. Even though Gareth Southgate’s men have the ball, they keep it in their field almost all the time, that is, in a position far from being a danger to their rivals. A situation that is also evident in England’s games is that they defend with all the players. Not even Kane stays on top anymore to be able to mount a counter. That is the challenge that the English team must face for the next matches, advancing beyond its field, both with the ball and without it. With this, more scoring opportunities could arrive, the players could begin to find the harmony that until now they have shown that they lack.

These errors and shortcomings are seen in all the games they have played. Added to this is that, far from making changes to the drawing and trying to face the matches with a change on the green, the players were the same in all the group stage matches with the exception of Alexander-Arnorld who was replaced by Gallagher. So far what they have shown about the green is not convincing and the situation has to change a lot for them to rise again in the polls. Although like everything, this is football, anything is possible and seeing this England winning the final would not be expected, but it is not impossible either.

2024-06-26 16:14:00
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