England was held back to a 0-0 stalemate by Slovenia in the final round of Group C fixtures. For the third consecutive match in a row, England has left the soccer world unsatisfied and irked with the showings. “At the moment it’s hard work for us, we’re not quite getting that break in front of goal”, were the post-match thoughts of Gareth Southgate.
The result ensures England qualifies for the round of 16 with a first-place finish in Group C. Slovenia, on the other hand, made history as the nation progressed to the knockout rounds for the first time ever. Denmark will also join England and Slovenia in the next round as the progressors from Group C.
A Lackluster display from England once again
English fans are still waiting for the national team to produce their best soccer. All three group-stage encounters have witnessed England fall way short of expectations. Gareth Southgate tinkered with the starting line-up against Slovenia but to no avail. The players look like they are petrified of the ball which contributes to a collective passive performance.
Perhaps, the biggest cause of England’s poor displays has been the lack of chemistry between the nation’s three young forwards, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Bukayo Saka. The three stars have not been on the same pace which has also affected the play of Harry Kane. Supporters have expressed their discontent with the level of performance exhibited by such a talented group of players.
Gareth Southgate’s personnel selection invites criticism once again
The England manager has been particularly stubborn during his stay with the national team regarding his personnel choices. Experts have argued against Southgate’s selections so far in the European Championship. Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden have been the evident disappointments of Southgate’s system. There have been calls for the likes of Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer, and Kobbie Mainoo to start, all three of whom made an impact off the bench against Slovenia.
The 53-year-old manager’s tactics are clearly not working in the Euros. Off the ball, the England squad does not press the ball and is happy to sit back. This strategy has allowed the opposition to take hold of the game and dominate possession. The incorrect profiling of the players has worsened the issue as the Three Lions are out of sync on how to win the ball back.
