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Rafa Molina (Documentation)
Good afternoon! The Czech Republic and England come to this last day of the group stage with the peace of mind of having their homework done. The two teams are already classified for the round of 16 and now what matters is knowing who does it as group leader. The lack of a goal is worrying in England.
Euro 96 ‘marked Gareth Southgate. The then center-back missed the penalty in the shootout that left England without an end. Köpke stopped the hosts. A mistake from which he wants to redeem himself 25 years later as a coach. “It is a great opportunity. We can be the first to win a European Championship. Footballers should not think about 1996. Many were not even born,” said the coach, noting the youth of a group that is not shining and that the leadership against the Czech Republic of the ‘copichichi’ Schick is played.
Facing Scotland, Southgate put the youngest line-up (25 years and 31 days) of the Three Lions in a European Championship or a World Cup. Mings (28) was the veteran of a team with James (21), Mount (22), Foden (21), Rice (22) … However, their children were left without recess: Scotland handcuffed them and left zero at Wembley (0-0).
“It was a frustrating night. We know we can play better. In a Euro, if you cannot win, you must not lose. We are working on developing patterns of the game, “said a coach with several dilemmas, the goal being the main one. A drought exemplified by Kane.
“It is essential, not only for its many. It is key in the construction of the game. You can be sure that it will be the holder“said Southgate about a captain who has neither scored nor shot on goal in these two games. The Premier’s top scorer (23 goals) and top assistant (14 passes) is dry like all of England.
The team with the best scoring average (4.62 per match) towards the tournament has only scored one goal, that of Sterling in the victory against Croatia (1-0). And the critic asks for changes. “If you are playing with two open players who have to dribble, Why not use Grealish and Sancho? He would also play with Calvert-Lewin. Kane has been isolated and could play ’10’, more liberated, with DCL doing what Giroud does in France, “confessed former captain Rooney in The Times.
The top two scorers on the English list after Kane (33 goals) – Calvert-Lewin and Rashford have each scored 21 goals with Everton and United – add up to one and 35 minutes, respectively. Nor have Grealish (27 minutes) and Sancho (0 minutes) played more.
“We have many options. For many of the young people it is their first big tournament. You have to be realistic,” said Southgate. The style is under discussion. “We don’t need two pivots like Rice and Phillips. Bellingham could have his chance“Shearer stated.
“Looking at Sterling and especially Foden we see how difficult it is to adapt from City to England. There they have the ball in the last third with fast passes and a lot of players moving around. Here, possession is slower and Phil is more isolated, “said Rooney.
The wingers -Walker and Trippier were starters against Croatia and James and Shaw against Scotland-; the inclusion of veterans Maguire and Henderson, return to the three centrals of the World Cup, replace the isolated Mount and Chilwell… Southgate plays English hide-and-seek before meeting a Czech Republic that is worth the tie for first place – with four points and three more than Scotland and Croatia, both are already classified, at least, as one of the best third-.
If the Three Lions win they would achieve a poisoned leadership: they would have the eighth at Wembley … but before the second in the group of Germany, Portugal, France and Hungary. If not, they would go to Copenhagen to play the quarters with the second of the lot from Spain. The calculator is devilish.