AN England legend from Italia ‘90 has called for Gareth Southgate to DROP Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
The Three Lions are preparing for their semi against the Dutch tomorrow to determine who will meet the winner of tonight’s Spain vs France in the Euro 2024 final.
Despite some underwhelming displays, Southgate’s side have reached the final four, courtesy of Saturday’s triumph over the Swiss.
Breel Embolo looked to have won it for Switzerland when he broke the deadlock with just 15 minutes left only for Bukayo Saka’s brilliant equaliser ensuring extra-time.
Neither nation could find another breakthrough, leading to penalties.
With the help of his trusted waterbottle, Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanji’s spot-kick before Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, and Ivan Toney all converted for England.
That left Trent Alexander-Arnold to step up to win it, and the Liverpool star made no mistake in securing a 5-3 shootout win.
That set-up Wednesday’s showdown with the Dutch, who came from behind themselves to beat Turkey 2-1.
Much has been made of Southgate’s team selection throughout the tournament so far, but now he has been urged to drop two of his ever-presents.
Man City ace Foden has been a regular down the left while Real Madrid superstar Bellingham, who scored the winner against Serbia before his outstanding bicycle kick saved us against Slovakia, has played in the No.10.
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But former winger Chris Waddle says he is “unconvinced” by the pair and that we have not seen the best of them in Germany.
Speaking to Prime Casino, the 63-year-old, who won 62 England caps, said: “We still haven’t seen the best of Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
GARETH SOUTHGATE has a Harry Kane dilemma ahead of the Euro 2024 semi-final, writes Kealan Hughes.
England face the Netherlands on Wednesday night as they bid to reach back-to-back Euros finals with their captain the subject of huge scrutiny.
Kane, 30, was taken off in extra-time against Switzerland after a lacklustre performance which saw the striker barely involved in play.
In 109 minutes, he completed just EIGHT passes – only one of which was in the final third.
Kane also made just four touches in the opposition penalty box, with critics lamenting his failure to get into the area to get on the end of one of Bukayo Saka’s many crosses.
Alan Shearer has advised Kane to do his work in the box rather than dropping back.
In fact his average position against Switzerland was DEEPER than wing-backs Saka and Kieran Trippier.
That might be understandable, with the pair bombing on to provide width.
But Kane was also, on average BEHIND Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and even holding midfielders Kobbie Mainoo and Declan Rice.
Read SunSport’s analysis on Southgate’s Kane dilemma in full.
“I’m not convinced by either of them.
“People want them to replicate their performances for Real Madrid and Manchester City when the pull on an England shirt, but that’s unrealistic because they’re not playing with the likes of Luka Modric, Vini Junior, Kevin De Bruyne or Rodri, but at the same time, I think we can expect more than what we have seen.”
Many have called for the likes of Anthony Gordon, Eberechi Eze and Cole Palmer to be given an opportunity instead.
And Waddle, who heartbreakingly missed a penalty in the World Cup semi-final 34 years ago against West Germany, agrees.
He said: “If I was Cole Palmer or Eberechi Eze, I would be having a word with the manager asking him to give me some minutes when the scores are level rather than coming into a game when England are staring down the barrel of a defeat, because the likes of Bellingham and Foden simply aren’t doing it.
THE key to winning penalty shootouts is to never think you’ve cracked it, writes Jurgen Klinsmann.
England were so impressive from the spot against Switzerland on Saturday — all five penalties were exceptional.
That will bring confidence to Gareth Southgate’s team but there is no guarantee they will win another one, in the semi-final against Holland or in the final.
Do not expect the next shootout to be the same. Thinking like that is very dangerous.
If a game goes to extra-time, don’t just believe you can get all the substitutions right and manage the game, then win on penalties — that’s when you take your eye off the ball.
And, unless you’re Ivan Toney, that’s usually a bad thing.
After so many bad experiences with shootouts over the years, it always plays on your mind.
It’s tragic when you keep losing that way and I know the whole English nation used to dread penalties.
Gareth and his staff have changed all that, thanks to excellent preparation. They know shootouts are no lottery.
The German national team haven’t lost a shootout since 1976 — and, of course, we beat England on penalties in the semi-finals of 1990 World Cup and Euro 96.
Here, our approaches were actually very different.
In 1990 we were full of players who were extremely confident in moments like that — players like Andreas Brehme, Lothar Matthaus and Rudi Voller, with extremely big personalities.
We were so convinced we would win that tournament in Italy, so we didn’t spend much time practising penalties.
Six years later, it was very different. We knew we didn’t have the same quality as England and we prepared for penalties methodically.
We got through because of an extreme desire to win, a willingness to suffer and, yes, being good at penalties.
As a manager, you have to read every player.
If he’s totally confident in his approach to taking a spot-kick, then he doesn’t have to shoot five penalties every day. Others need constant repetition.
I’ve always prepared my team for shootouts as if they would be crucial.
We never felt embarrassed about saying that. It’s part of preparation for knockout matches.
Read all of SunSport columnist Jurgen Klinsmann’s Euro 2024 opinions.
“Our performances have improved when Palmer and Eze have been introduced. I think that we look like a much better team in terms of the football we’re playing with them in the side.”
However, he does believe he knows why Southgate keeps persisting with the two attackers.
The ex-Newcastle, Tottenham and Sheffield Wednesday icon added: “I think that Bellingham and Foden are getting into the team in front of Palmer and Eze because they work a little bit harder off the ball and Gareth likes his midfielders to graft.
“He has definitely sacrificed creativity for discipline in my opinion.
“The thing is, I think you can find a better balance in midfield that blends a bit of steel and hard work with creativity and technical ability.
“We haven’t managed to do that. Spain has the perfect midfield blend.”
