Kieran Trippier applauding the fans during an intense night match, illuminated by the bright stadium lights. © Twitter (@England)
England’s progress to the last 16 of Euro 2024 has been met with relief and frustration. Their 0-0 draw against Slovenia in Cologne, following a lackluster performance against Denmark, underscores the team’s struggles despite being pre-tournament favorites. England’s display showed some improvement, especially with a slick passing move that led to Bukayo Saka’s disallowed goal for offside, but it was still far from convincing.
The England supporters, who were vocal in their support during the match, expressed their dissatisfaction with boos and thrown cups towards Gareth Southgate after the game. The midfield remains a critical area of concern, with Conor Gallagher’s underwhelming performance leading to his replacement by Kobbie Mainoo at halftime. Mainoo’s introduction brought some urgency to the team’s play, but the creativity and effectiveness still needed to be improved.
Despite having 74% possession, England failed to seriously test Slovenia’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who only had to make a late save from Cole Palmer. That highlights England’s inability to break down a well-organized defense, a recurring issue in the group stage where no team scored more than one goal per game.
For now, England’s favorable draw, avoiding France, Spain, Germany, and Portugal offers hope. Their potential last-16 opponents, the Netherlands, might change depending on the final round of matches. However, for England to advance further, they must significantly improve their performance levels.
Gareth Southgate’s ongoing midfield dilemma is evident, with Manchester United’s teenager Mainoo being Declan Rice’s third partner in just two and a half games. The experiment with Trent Alexander-Arnold and the subsequent use of Gallagher failed, leaving Southgate to consider his options carefully. Mainoo’s energetic display suggests he might be the preferred choice moving forward.
While England has advanced to the knockout stages, its performances have raised many questions. It must rediscover its attacking prowess and consistency to make the most of its favorable draw and succeed in Euro 2024.
