Under-fire Gareth Southgate admits England need to improve and quickly if they are to compete in the knockout stages of Euro 2024.
England produced a more positive display in their final Group C encounter with Slovenia in Cologne, dominating possession and pinning their opponents back for huge swathes of the game, however a disallowed first-half tap-in from Bukayo Saka and a tame finish too close to the keeper from sub Cole Palmer in stoppage-time were as close as they came to breaking the deadlock.
Empty cups thrown at Gareth Southgate as he applauds the England supporters. @TheAthleticFC #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/rvJhL6t5OL
— Dan Sheldon (@Dan_Sheldon_) June 25, 2024
Southgate was jeered and appeared to have plastic cups thrown in his direction by England fans after the game, despite his side finishing top of the group and securing a favourable tie – on paper – in the Round of 16 on Sunday (5pm BST) in Gelsenkirchen.
Speaking in his post-match media conference, Southgate said he understood fans’ frustrations, but added: “I’m not going to back away from it. The most important thing is the supporters stay with the team.
“I understand the narrative towards me and that’s better for the team than it being towards them. But it is creating an unusual environment to operate in. I’ve not seen any other team qualify and receive similar.
“I’m very proud of the players for how they’re operating within it.”
Speaking to ITV Sport in the wake of the stalemate against Slovenia – who qualified in third place for their first ever knockout match in a major tournament – Southgate said: “I thought we were much improved with the ball.
“We created some good openings and at the moment, it’s hard work for us. We’re not quite getting that break in front of goal.
“I thought the boys that came on had a really good impact on the game. And we’ve had the discipline to keep a clean sheet which has ended up meaning we top the group, so I understand some reactions but it’s a strange environment we’re playing in.”
Southgate insisted he ‘tried to win the game’ by bringing Kobbie Mainoo, Palmer and Anthony Gordon on during the second half, and of Palmer he said: “He did very good. He finds space well and he makes chances and you fancied him (to score) at the end.
“They are really young players and we are balancing blooding them in a really difficult environment. They had a good impact for us and did good things for us. We have to build on that. There were a lot of things to build on from tonight.”
Southgate said it was ‘unrealistic’ to think England were going to snap out of their Group C malaise by sweeping aside stubborn Slovenia by three or four goals, adding: “We have to take it a step at a time, tonight was an improvement. We have to improve again.”
As group winners they will avoid facing Germany, Spain, Portugal or France until the final in Berlin on July 14, but Southgate warned: “We have got to play well and whoever we play is going to be a really tough game. We shouldn’t be seduced by which half of the draw we are on.
He added: “Things are starting to come together. We had a lot of issues before the tournament. I think the way the defence has played has been a huge positive and something to build on.
“We looked more dangerous, had good impact from subs and created chances but we just have to convert those chances.”
England and Slovenia share the points 🤝
England top Group C 🏴#EURO2024 | #ENGSVN pic.twitter.com/VtUAncDydS
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) June 25, 2024
