COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — Prime of the group, unbeaten and on the favorable facet of the draw for the knockout part of Euro 2024. It’s a case of job completed for England at this stage of the match.
Attempt telling that to the followers who jeered loudly and threw beer cups as the ultimate whistle blew on a 0-0 draw with Slovenia at Cologne Stadium on Tuesday.
Criticism of England’s performances in Germany has been fierce.
“I’ve not seen any workforce qualify and obtain comparable,” supervisor Gareth Southgate stated.
Southgate believes he and his England workforce may very well be paying the value for its success beneath his management. Secure passage by means of to the spherical of 16 maintains his private document of advancing from the group stage of each main match he’s taken cost of, relationship again to the World Cup in 2018.
“I feel most likely expectation (is completely different). We’ve made England during the last six or seven years enjoyable once more. I feel it has been gratifying for the gamers,” Southgate stated. “We’ve obtained to be very, very cautious that it stays that manner.”
England hasn’t been enjoyable to look at at these Euros with a 1-0 win in opposition to Serbia its solely victory in Group C. That was adopted by a 1-1 draw with Denmark and the scoreless draw with Slovenia.
Three video games, two targets and an entire lot of underwhelmed followers.
The efficiency in opposition to Denmark was apparently so uninspired that former captain and now BBC presenter Gary Lineker used an expletive to explain it. And regardless of claiming he was “oblivious” to Lineker’s stinging critique, it contributed to the “uncommon setting” Southgate stated he was working in at this match.
The ambiance was hardly helped by plastic beer cups being thrown on the sector as Southgate and his gamers went to applaud England supporters after the match.
“I’m not going to again down from going over and thanking the followers who had been sensible through the sport,” he stated. “They could really feel otherwise in direction of me. However for me, we solely will succeed if we’re collectively.”
Southgate led England to the semifinals of the World Cup in 2018 and the ultimate of the final Euros. However his workforce will seemingly want a pointy upturn in kind whether it is to dwell as much as its pre-tournament billing as one of many favorites for the European title.
Nonetheless, England has not less than ended up on the alternative facet of the draw to Spain, France, Germany and Portugal and can play probably the greatest third-place groups within the subsequent spherical after advancing as group winner.
“That was the goal earlier than the beginning of the match. Come high of the group and management our future,” captain Harry Kane stated.
The outcome additionally meant Slovenia reached the spherical of 16 for the primary time and Croatia was eradicated.
“We’re such a small nation, with such an enormous coronary heart and psychological power. That’s why I’m very happy with my workforce,” coach Matjaz Kek stated. “That is solely the start for a brand new and delightful period for Slovenian soccer.”
Whereas it was a proud evening for Slovenians, it was one other efficiency that highlighted England’s attacking points, with substitute Cole Palmer coming closest to scoring a winner in stoppage time.
“You’ll be able to’t go into each sport with such strain and rating 4 targets. Soccer doesn’t work like that,” Southgate stated. “You will need to win the group to regulate your individual future.”
A masked Kylian Mbappé scored his first objective of the Euros, however France drew 1-1 with Poland to complete runner-up in Group D behind Austria, which beat the Netherlands 3-2.
Mbappé wore a protecting masks after breaking his nostril in France’s opening sport in opposition to Austria and scored from the penalty spot. However Robert Lewandowski’s twice-taken spot kick gave already eradicated Poland its first level of the match.
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James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024