General Sports News
Southgate Unforgivable Tactical Errors That Cost England the Euro 2020 Title
While we can blame Rashford, Sancho, and Saka for missing their penalties, there is no doubt that Gareth Southgate’s unforgivable tactical errors also cost England the Euro 2020 title. Italy worked out England’s wing-back system – and Southgate’s response was too late.
After the match, Southgate said:
“In terms of the players, they’ve given everything they could have, not only tonight but the whole tournament. They should hold their heads high.
They’ve pulled together, given the country some incredible evenings.
Not being able to give the country the trophy we wanted to is difficult to put into context.
That’s difficult to put into words. But the players have given absolutely everything.”
Roy Keane says Gareth Southgate got his penalty tactics wrong
Man Utd legend Roy Keane has slammed Southgate and senior England players such as Raheem Sterling and Jack Grealish for allowing younger members of the squad to take crucial penalties in shootout defeat to Italy on Sunday.
According to Keane, such a high-pressure situation needed the confidence of senior players to step up — not young and inexperienced players like Saka.
The Three Lions finished as runners-up at the European Championship after they lost 3-2 to Italy on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Gareth Southgate brought young attacking duo Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho onto the pitch solely with the purpose of taking spot-kicks, however the new Manchester United teammates both failed to convert their efforts.
Sky Sports pundits criticize the tactical naivety of England head coach Gareth Southgate.
Tactical flexibility was at the heart of England’s success at Euro 2020. Gareth Southgate’s ability to mould and shape his side into a system which would nullify an opponent’s strengths and expose their weaknesses has seen England flick between back threes and back fours, and flex the shape and type of midfield and attack further up the pitch.
It appeared the manager had played another masterstroke 30 minutes into the final, with England’s surprise wing-back set-up allowing them to pull Italy across the pitch in possession and have enough men back to block out any incision from the Italian attackers at the other end.
Luke Shaw’s goal perfectly highlighted how England had caught their opponents off guard and stretched them.
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Euro 2020 final: Luke Shaw scores in England vs Italy
But the danger with a back three is that under pressure it can become a back five and that’s what happened to England.
As the half wore on and Italy seized control of possession, they began to wear down their opponents. England’s wing-backs, who had been so devastating early on, were pinned back, while Italy’s midfield were allowed to dictate the play in front of the hosts’ deep-lying defence.
It was backs-to-the-walls stuff for long periods for England.
That approach asked for trouble – and found it when yet another heroic intervention from Harry Maguire led to a corner which Leonardo Bonucci bundled in.
Southgate got his tactics wrong: Kane flopped
Kane suffers as England’s struggle in Euro 2020 final: Southgate wrong tactics
- ‘Harry Kane didn’t attempt a shot or create a chance for only the second time in his 61 games for England, with the other coming in a 29-minute substitute appearance against Switzerland in 2018.’
- Half of any reflection on that incredible statistic should of course go to the Italy defence, led by stalwarts Chiellini and Bonucci.
- But there’s also no getting away from the other side of the same coin: when England needed their captain the most, he wasn’t there. But was that really Kane’s fault? Maybe no.
- Any striker thrives on service and Kane received none.
Bukayo Saka is not on his own’: Gareth Southgate offers full support to England youngster after penalty miss
England manager Gareth Southgate took responsibility for selecting bench players like Sancho and Rashford to take the penalties, but he insisted that Buykayo Saka was “not on his own” after the teenager’s saved penalty handed Italy the Euro 2020 trophy.
Saka was for many a surprise inclusion in the squad but, after coming in for Phil Foden after two games, established himself as one of the team’s key players.
He did not start the final but came on in the second half and put in another fine performance as the game went to extra time and then penalties.
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There is NO REASON for Gareth Southgate to be linked with the Manchester United job
Gareth Southgate is the only person in the Universe who can turn Manchester United into Middlesbrough within no time
The English media is trying all their best to push Southgate to united, but he is championship level manager at best
The England national team is waay better than this Manu squad, and he has had 0 success ( reaching semis ain’t success). So what exactly are people expecting if he becomes Manu boss
Absolutely no way! Why would Man U hire Southgate? That would be the worse decision in the history of the game.
ETH outwitted Klopp last weekend in one of the best and most dramatic FA cup clashes in years and I’m sorry but Southgate would not have won that game and ETH has had to deal with Ronaldo, Sancho, Greenwood and so on, he deserves more time
Soccer Football – Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag on the pitch before the match REUTERS/Umit Bektas/ File photo
I have been saying this for weeks now. If United were under any other manager especially Southgate, they would be fighting for relegation right now. The problem at United is not Ten Hag but the players.
People keep saying that Ten Hag’s style of football at United is not attractive and no identity but there is so much that a manager can do if the players themselves are not good enough or not putting enough effort. Ten Hag’s Ajax were playing attractive football and he managed to get them to the SF of the CL.
Without him, look at Ajax now. And the media keep pushing their agenda to get Ten Hag sack and replace him with a much worse manager like Southgate. If Ten Hag is managing England right now, with the players they have, we won’t see such a passive football like we saw yesterday vs Brazil. Ask Liverpool fans, would they replace Klopp with Southgate? I rest my case.
- Ten Hag Says Man United Are on Track
- Liverpool blame themselves for FA Cup loss to Man United
- Man United searching for Erik ten Hag replacement
Liverpool only have themselves to blame for loss to Manchester United. Had to find a way to squeeze in the random Bruno slag off in between. Dude was dead on his feet at full time, and had to slot in to center back for the last 30 minutes.
SportsFila reflect on Manchester United’s 4-3 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup Quarterfinals and look ahead to the semifinals where Erik ten Hag’s side will take on Coventry.
How come everybody seems to have forgotten that 2 of LFC’s goals were pure luck?
More shots, same shots on goal, higher goal expectancy. What is this narrative that Liverpool should have put this game away, if anything we should’ve put this game away! They had a good 20, 25 minute stint where they kept the ball in the second half, but did nothing with it, we deservedly won this game.
David de Gea is still without a club since leaving Manchester United this summer (Image: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)
For Liverpool fans: don’t say that we lost to Manchester United because Jota Trent Alisson and jones didn’t play. We have to stop doing that every time a team loses a big game it’s very stupid because had you won, you wouldn’t be saying that. Don’t forget that when y’all drew 0-0 to them at home Trent Alisson and Jones started. Keep in mind how well they’ve been playing despite having lots of injuries they almost beat Manchester City’s full strength squad last week.
Also, you lose to Manchester United, 2 fringe players for them decided the game for them, Liverpool didn’t play well and a loss is a loss you have to accept it otherwise you’re a sole loser and are unwilling to take it.
It’s interesting how nothing much is said about the mistakes made by Liverpool, but all criticism is piled on Bruno; how supposedly poor he was.
Ten Hag claims United is moving in the right direction 👀 WHAT DIRECTION IS THAT?!
Every time he speaks after a dismal performance after the match I always sit there saying to myself “What on Earth are you talking about”.
The media trying so hard to get ETH sacked…..when liverpool had bad injuries with VVD out, y’all didnt have the same energy
Most fans want ETH out because of his poor tactics and substitutions. I also felt he should be braver to drop non-performing players irrespective of names, and even play academy players if he has to.
Now I’m ETH in because I realise from Rooney’s and Ole’s recent interviews that the mentality of these players are incredibly low and it’s no longer just speculation that the players can’t cope on this stage.
I can understand ETH saying positive things and coming off as “crazy” but if you have players who are weak minded and aren’t willing to fight, you can’t be tough cos they’ll cave and where does that leave you for the rest of the season?! Jason Sancho case in point. I rather come across as insane to the media but hope that I’m lifting the team enough to get a string of performances to save my job and give the fans at least something to cheer about until I can have a summer clear out.
Keane is a freaking legend but that approach with these weak players will kill them and ETH would lose the dressing room.
This man keeps dropping off bombs on and off the field..A gift that keeps on giving..Most delulu man on this green earth
What a GIFT! Hand him a 15 years contract and 5 years add ons
The problem for Utd in recruiting an elite manager in the Summer is that Liverpool, Bayern and Barca will also be looking for new managers.
From the moment I heard “A new era begins. .” from ETH. I knew it was the joke of the century. He has the guts to say it while Klopp/Guardiola are competing against each other by 1 point in the Primer league he acted like he can compete with them ro
