Featured Image Credit: The Rest is Football/ Getty
Topics: England, Euro 2024, Micah Richards, Spain, Germany, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Football
Ben McCrum
Topics: England, Euro 2024, Micah Richards, Spain, Germany, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Football
Micah Richards has had his say on what is holding England back at Euro 2024.
The round of 16 of the 2024 European Championships are almost over, with the final matches kicking off on Tuesday night.
England survived an early scare from Slovakia in their first knockout clash, coming back to win 2-1 after an injury time equaliser from Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham caused the match to go to extra time, where Harry Kane scored the winner.
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Spain also had to comeback after an 18th minute goal saw Georgia, who were competing in their first ever major tournament, take an unlikely lead in what would have been the biggest upset of the tournament.
But, unlike England, Spain steadied themselves and scored four goals before the full-time whistle, setting up a quarter-final clash with hosts Germany.
And, former England player Micah Richards has had his say on what is holding England back from performances like Spain’s.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, he said: “Get an attacking manager, simple as that really. It is as simple as that, if you get an attacking manager, it changes everything.
“And that’s no disrespect to the previous England managers, you’ve got to play on the front foot, you’ve got to believe that you can win games that way, the modern football way.”
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Co-hosts Gary Linker and Alan Shearer agreed with Richards, pointing out that, with talents such as Phil Foden, Kane and Bellingham, England have the ability to play this kind of football.
But, despite their attacking stars, the Three Lions have struggled to score at Euro 2024, getting just two goals in the group stage as well as the two against Slovakia.
Furthermore, all of England’s goals have come from just two players, Kane and Bellingham.
The style of play and lack of goals it provides has led to some fans calling for current England manager Gareth Southgate to be replaced after the end of the tournament.
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And Southgate has spoken to the media suggesting that, should he fail to win the Euros, he will resign as England boss.
Speaking to German newspaper BILD, Southgate said: “If we don't win, I probably won't be here anymore. So maybe it is the last chance.
“I think around half the national coaches leave after a tournament – that's the nature of international football. I've been here almost eight years now and we've come close.
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“You can't constantly put yourself in front of the public and say, ‘A little more please’ as at some point people lose faith. If we want to be a great team and I want to be a top coach, you must deliver in big moments.”
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