New Delhi: Engand were certainly amongst the pre season favourites to win the UEFA Euro 2024 title. However, despite facing a lot of criticisms and not having the most convincing and smooth run, they have finally made it through to the finals of this season’s Euro campaign. This is the second consecutive time that Gareth Southgate has led the English side to the finals of UEFA Euro championship, where they will be facing a high flying Spanish side for the title.
Euro 2020 final produced a heartbreaking end for Southgate’s men after the Italians lifted the trophy by winning the game on penalties. Southgate will be looking to get the job done this time around as he has a chip on his shoulder which will only get removed once he ends England’s nearly 60 year trophy drought. This campaign hasn’t been easy on the English team as they have faced heavy criticisms on their attacking approach throughout the campaign.
Despite the criticisms and the issues they have faced, England somehow managed to make it through to the finals of this year’s Euro campaign. They get ready to face, according to many, the best team in this year’s Euro campaign, Spain who have cruised past their opponents winning each and every game so far. Here’s a look at how England made it this far.
Group stages
England’s Phil Foden reacts during the UEFA Euro 2024 match at the Frankfurt Arena in Frankfurt, Germany. Picture date: Thursday June 20, 2024. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
England were a part of group C, where they faced Denmark, Serbia and Slovenia. They got the best possible start to their campaign when Jude Bellingham scored an early goal in the 13th minute of the game against Serbia. However, the way it shaped after the goal, left a lot of fans, especially the neutrals, extremly frustrated as England played the entire game sitting back, producing no real threat till the very end of the match. After winning the match 1-0 with just five shots on goal throughout the game, it was clear that England never looked like they wanted to add to their early advantage.
Their next game against Denmark caused further concerns for Gareth Southgate’s side. England took the lead in the 18th minute of the game after Harry Kane scored to give them the advantage, but it was soon levelled by a wonderful strike by Morten Hjulmand in the 34th minute. After the leveller, Denmark looked like the better side, creating better chances but failing to take the advantage while the English players were sitting back causing no real threat whatsoever. This became a major concern as the match ended 1-1, where Denmark looked like the more threatening out of the two sides.
As the campaign progressed towards the knockout stages, nothing was confirmed as none of the sides had a sizeable gap to be the cetain favourites to reach the round of 16. However, England confirmed their ticket to the knockout stages after a goalless draw in their final group match against Slovenia. Yet another game where they showed absolutely no urgency or intent going forward.
Round of 16 vs Slovakia
GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – JUNE 30: Juraj Kucka of Slovakia in action during the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 match between England and Slovakia at Arena AufSchalke on June 30, 2024 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
England headed into the round of 16 with a top place finish. However, Southgate’s tactics were already looking rather concerning where the players were showing no inten going forward. Yet another game where Southgate’s men found it difficult to create any sort of chances on the pitch. The Slovaks took the lead in the 36 th minute of the match as it was Ivan Schranz who provided them with the advantage. Despite having a superior possession, England managed to create no real chance yet again until it was Bellingham who scored a brilliant overhead kick in the dying minutes to send the match to extra time.
The brave Slovaks just couldn’t resist the English after Harry Kane broke their hearts in the very beginning of extra time giving England a 2-1 advantage. After that, England yet again sat back and let the match end that way as they progressed through to the Quarter finals.
Quarter finals vs Switzerland
DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – JULY 06: Bukayo Saka of England kicks to score for penalty shootout during the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final football match between England and Switzerland at the Duesseldorf Arena in Duesseldorf on July 6, 2024. (Photo by Hesham Elsherif/Anadolu via Getty Images)
England were up against a very confident Swiss side, fresh from winning 2-0 against the former champions Italy in the round of 16. The talented English attackers yet again found it difficult to find the freedom on the pitch while also lacked the creativity and finishing touch. Southgate’s tactics seemed to be more of protecting a slim lead or keeping the scores levelled rather than going for an attacking approach to show any sort of intent and urgency to win a game.
It was closely contested game between Switzerland and England. The fans had to wait till the 76th minute to witness any sort of real action as it was Breel Embolo who scored the first goal to give Switzerland the lead. However, it was Saka who scored the leveller in the 80th minute to take the match to extra time. England were able to win the game on penalties to reach the semi finals where they faced the Dutch.
Semi finals vs Netherlands
DORTMUND, GERMANY – JULY 10: Harry Kane of England celebrates after scoring his side’s first goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Netherlands and England at Football Stadium Dortmund on July 10, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
The Netherlands and England started kicked off with high intensity as both the sides looked to threaten from the very beginning. however, it was the young Xavi Simons who scored a banger of a gol in just the seventh mintue of the game to give Netherlands the lead. England responded well after going behind as they looked much more confident going forward than any other games that they played. It was the 18th minute of the game where a controversial penalty was given to England, that was slotted home by their skipper Harry Kane to level the score.
It was a fanatic end to the game as England managed to score a winner in the dying moments of the game, courtesy of the substitute, Ollie Watkins. It was 2-1 in the 90 plus added time as the Netherlands were left hopeless on the pitch. The English side managed to progress through to the finals where they will be facing Spain for the title.
Finals vs Spain
DORTMUND, GERMANY – JULY 10: Ollie Watkins of England celebrates during the UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Netherlands and England at Football Stadium Dortmund on July 10, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
Spain have certainly looked like the team to beat this campaign and England, despite facing all the criticisms have managed to make it into the finals. This just might be England’s biggest challenge this campaign as they are facing the best team of Euro 2024 that too in the finals where the stakes are high and the room for error is minimal. England showed their attacking ability against Netherlands where they looked much more comfortable as compared to their previous matches this campaign. However, they need to show more urgency on the pitch, attack more in order to rattle and cause more problems for the Spanish defenders.
England managed to edge past the Dutch side to make it through to the finals of the UEFA Euro 2024. As they prepare for the match against Spain, let’s have a look at their journey to the finals. Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
