England beat Switzerland on penalties… and is in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. It seems like a miracle, but history, once again, repeated itself. He forced extra time in the round of 16 against Slovakia in the first shot on goal (Bellingham, in the 95th minute) and went to extra time again in the quarterfinals with the first shot between the sticks (Saka, in the 80th minute). Call it a flower, call it whatever you want, but there they are.
‘No risk, no glory’
Southgate finds it difficult. Until he sees the ‘wolf’s ears’ he does not leave the ‘conservative party’. He could be a candidate in the next elections. With almost everything lost, he finally decided to take a risk. He made a triple change to suddenly line up an attack made up of Kane, Palmer, Foden, Eze, Bellingham and Saka. What artillery! Thus came the 1-1 and the moments, perhaps, England’s greatest vertigo in the entire tournament. By the way, Palmer has to be a starter now. The pace changes for England. Maybe Southgate’s solution is to delay Bellingham to the double pivot to add another attacking player. Conservative or not, in the end Southgate is like the bank, he (almost) always wins.
He is one of the most underrated defenders in the world
Manuel Akanji does not have the fame of Rúben Dias or John Stones. Nor from Josko Gvardiol. He doesn’t even have the ‘flow’ of Nathan Aké. All of them his teammates at Manchester City. He also does not usually appear among the best in the Premier. The former Borussia Dortmund player is one of the most underrated defenders on ‘planet football’.In Switzerland, playing in the center of a defense, He is a true ‘Kaiser’. Imperial with and without the ball. He got into Kane’s pocket and didn’t let him move. Bayern’s ‘9’ was so deranged that he ended up seeing yellow for elbowing Akanji that earned him yellow in the 67th minute. Interestingly, Akanji put an end to Kane’s party. He ran over him in the 109th minute and ended up colliding with Southgate on the bench. Toney immediately entered his place. It’s a shame he missed the penalty. A single blot in a spectacular match.
Centurion Southgate
The England manager He has accumulated 100 games with the ‘three lions’ since his arrival in 2016. Only Alf Ramsey (110) and Winterbottom (120) led more. Not the game, but the numbers support it. He has 60 wins, 25 draws and 16 losses. In addition, he has guided England to finish fourth in the 2018 World Cup, to the final of Euro 2020, to the quarterfinals in Qatar 2022… and to the semis, for now, in Euro 2024.
Saka vs. Xhaka
One of those duels that gives us journalists so much play. Both were teammates at Arsenal and this time they faced each other with a place in the quarterfinals at stake. They were both fine, each in their own way. Saka, especially. He was England’s biggest threat: he drove Aebischer ‘crazy’. Xhaka, despite playing touched, It didn’t wrinkle. He asked for the ball again and again, put his foot in, accelerated and paused the game… On his line, let’s go. Xhaka also took, it must be said, an elbow from Saka. In the 1-1 they were both protagonists. Saka went inside, Xhaka went out to cover… but he didn’t make it. Great way for Bukayo to make his debut as a scorer in a Euro. England was out…
England ‘forgets’ to shoot
The ‘three lions’ have good players, they dominate possession, but it costs them a world to create a dangerous chance, whether they play with three or four at the back. In the round of 16, against Slovakia, it took them 95 minutes to connect with their first shot on goal. I don’t need to remind you how it ended: Bellingham’s bicycle kick goal to force extra time. History repeated itself against Switzerland. The first shot between the three sticks did not come until the 80th minute. Do you know how it ended? I’m sure you guessed it. Yes, with Bukayo Saka’s goal to make it 1-1.
Konsa, menuda ‘first’
The sanction to Guéhi for accumulation of warnings He opened the doors of the eleven to Ezri Konsa. The Aston Villa centre-back performed with flying colors in his debut as a starter in a major tournament. He was attentive to everything and became an (almost) impregnable wall. Southgate retired him in the 78th minute in pursuit of the comeback. At that time he was the player who had completed the most clearances (8) and the most shots he had blocked (3).
