The semi-final of Euro 2024 is set to occur at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion featuring England against Netherlands, and is slated to be broadcast live on RTÉ 2 and ITV at 8pm Irish time. Gareth Southgate, the coach of England’s team, has implored his men to forsake memories of past failures and strive to “rewrite the annals of history” by securing a place in a landmark final on non-domestic soil – a feat that the team has a chance to achieve when they compete against Netherlands on Wednesday night.
Despite plagued with criticism following a lacklusty performance over the past month, England is nonetheless the anticipated victor of the upcoming Euro 2024 semi-final match. A win against this long-standing adversary would mean treading new waters and a triumph that their male predecessors haven’t tasted before.
Southgate’s squad had previously reached the finals hosted in Wembley three years prior, after a victory against Denmark. However, a heart-wrenching loss against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals in Russia left an unforgettable impression. Southgate wishes these unfortunate circumstances serve as a catalyst to spur his team to aim higher.
Southgate articulates the obligations facing England at the Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion, optimistically asserting that his men have risen and conquered such challenges in the past and leveraged them as encouragement to establish new benchmarks, “We’ve not been participants in a final outside our domestic turf before. This could be a time of change and we must look at it this way.”
“We shouldn’t endure the weight of past incidents,” he continues. “We should harness the prospect of rewriting history as a catalyst, and that’s how the boys perceive it. What matters is the present, and past occurrences are neither their liability nor issue.”
Despite some hitches, the previous win against Switzerland in a penalty shoot-out showcased England’s best game in the tournament, indicating a potentially timely uptick in performance. Southgate remarked on the intriguing experience of managing a team he initially considered tentative in previous matches.
The coach observed his men to be initially apprehensive of potential hiccups. However, this mindset has seemingly morphed into a spirit of determination and positivity over time, resulting in an improved and true representation of their abilities in the recent match.
Southgate’s reaction to England’s second group match against Denmark, both within and outside his team, was one of concern, and he directly addressed the apprehension this caused. Ahead of their clash with Slovenia, he presented the team with photos illustrating the more relaxed responses of rival teams. “It became a topic of discussion,” he revealed. “If there’s a hint of such emotion, it needs to be tackled head-on. Looking the other way and wishing it would fade isn’t the solution.
“In the Denmark match, the draw we secured had an image of our players looking utterly dejected. It was a critical point that almost guaranteed our qualification. Other teams would be celebrating such a feat with their followers, but we fell to our knees. I had to correct this distorted perspective. This sentiment was being strongly and actively echoed from the outside, and I believe the squad was overly sensitive to this.”
Following an intense training session where England braved temperatures above 30 degrees, Harry Kane proposed that the confidence gained from prior wins could help maintain momentum even during subpar performances. He noted that the true element of intimidation might come from England unsettling their competitors.
“We’re yet to truly max out the potential we have been demonstrating for the last few years”, Kane remarked. “However, we’re still in a strong position, leaning on a wealth of experience and reputation. Reaching finals and semi-finals on a regular basis imparts a certain prestige to the team that other countries recognise.”
He acknowledged that over the course of previous tournaments, this reputation has been built up. “Now we’re in a position where we earned our place. Progressing through any stage is challenging, but we’ve discovered the knack for it,” Kane added.
Kane also pointed out that the perception of semi-finals has shifted, contrasting this year with the fresh excitement of ‘riding the wave’ back in 2018. “It brings with it a unique kind of pressure,” he declared. “There will be more outcry if we’re eliminated in the quarter-finals or round of 16 compared to earlier tournaments.”
Kane has dismissed claims suggesting his physical fitness is faltering following a return of two goals and some substandard performances that have led to demands for him to be replaced. He argues that when his scoring is off, it’s easy to question his fitness. However, he assured he had a good preparation prior to the tournament and feels he is improving his game with each match.
England has the advantage of a fully prepared and healthy squad, whereas their counterparts, the Netherlands, faced some travel disruptions which might have affected their preparation. The Dutch train to their Wolfsburg camp was cancelled, prompting a last-minute rearrangement for an evening flight. One of the main selection dilemmas for Southgate involves deciding between Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa, with the former looking to reclaim his position after serving a suspension. Luke Shaw has made a comeback against Switzerland but displacing Kieran Trippier from left back won’t be an easy task.
Southgate envisions Wednesday kickstarting a successful sporting summer. He highlighted that England’s tally of semi-finals now resembles what was expected but acknowledged the need for further progress, considering numerous nations have clinched the European Championship, which England is yet to achieve. His aim is to change this narrative. — Guardian