Gareth Southgate, the manager of the England team, has expressed concerns that his squad might not be physically primed to implement his desired strategy at Euro 2024. Meanwhile, Declan Rice spoke out about the growing tensions affecting the players.
The atmosphere amongst the England squad was noticeably introspective and full of reflection as they grappled with the fallout from their 1-1 tie against Denmark on Thursday. The outcome of the game wasn’t of primary concern, given that England remains in control of their fate as potential Group C victors making it to the last 16. Rather, the focus was on their collective display, which was riddled with ball-handling errors and lacked the required intensity when not in possession. The pressing game wasn’t effective, raising concerns as Denmark managed to create pockets of space.
Southgate hasn’t been private about his concerns for the fitness levels of some key players, who haven’t played full matches consistently in the recent past. One such player is the team’s leader, Harry Kane. After a back injury towards the latter part of his club season with Bayern Munich, Kane has only made it through an entire match once since May 4. This was during England’s 1-0 victory over Serbia in the group stage opener.
During the match against Denmark, Kane seemed to lack the drive needed, leading to Southgate replacing him with Ollie Watkins in the 70th minute to bring in some much-needed vitality. Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden were also replaced simultaneously. Saka had to miss the final Premier League match with Arsenal due to injury and only played for 25 minutes in England’s preparatory matches.
Southgate noted, “Our pressing is not effective enough nor intense enough, and we are hindered by current physical statuses. Therefore, we cannot press higher up on the pitch as we managed in the qualifiers, for instance. Additionally, our ball retention must improve. It is crucial that we maintain possession more efficiently and construct our game with more stability.”
When asked to share his views on Southgate’s remarks, Rice pondered whether the physical condition of the players was indeed a concern. He said, “It’s a tough call to make. Only the individual player knows his physical state. It’s rare that players confess to fatigue. A spectator on the other hand can likely spot a fatigued player, but it’s something the player himself is unlikely to concede.”
The attention and tension faced by the athletes can be overwhelming, placing them under relentless scrutiny. It raises queries if this is influencing them negatively. After the Denmark match, Southgate confessed that their overzealous efforts could be hindering their performance.
Rice stated: “Everyone is incredibly eager to make the nation proud. We’re all striving to claim victory, to be pioneers, to provide unforgettable moments for the masses.
“There are moments when I believe we’re imposing too much stress on ourselves. We could instead just give our best without worrying about the result. Yet, we have one victory and one draw from two matches. Now we’re preparing for the upcoming match against Slovenia. Our aim has always been to qualify and I am certain we’ll make it.”
Southgate observed, “I notice that they enjoy collaborating daily. I don’t attribute it to a lack of enthusiasm. Strangely enough, they might just be too eager which necessitates strong leadership. We’re required to navigate them through the challenging times that lie ahead while keeping our focus on the target.
“We’re endeavouring to accomplish something unprecedented – winning the Euros. This journey would undeniably be tumultuous. Accomplishing exceptional feats never occurs without hurdles. They’re bloody hard. We need to accept the high expectations and the arena we’re playing in. We also need to figure out a superior strategy than the one we’ve been following so far.” – Guardian