England coach Gareth Southgate expressed his satisfaction with his team’s defensive unity despite a challenging finish in their 1-0 victory against Serbia at Euro 2024 on Sunday. The match, held in Gelsenkirchen, saw a strong start from England, as Jude Bellingham’s header gave them the lead just 13 minutes into the game. Until halftime, England appeared to be in complete control. However, their performance waned in the second half, necessitating crucial saves from Jordan Pickford to maintain their advantage in the Group C opener.
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Southgate emphasized that the ability to ‘suffer’ through difficult moments would ultimately benefit the team. He explained that the experience of defending under pressure would be advantageous in the long run. ‘We had to suffer a bit which I think is really good for us. To defend the box the way we did was really good for us,’ Southgate remarked. ‘I was really pleased with a lot of the play. Second half we didn’t keep it as well as I would have liked but to get the win is very important. Pleased we had to show a different side and show a resilience to defend our box because as a group that builds a spirit. We defended very well as a unit,’ he added.
The performance might not have lived up to expectations for the pre-tournament favorites, particularly in comparison to the host nation’s emphatic victory over Scotland two days earlier. However, Southgate firmly believed that England could derive significant pride from their performance, especially their defensive cohesiveness. Despite acknowledging that there is room for improvement, Southgate maintained that he never subscribed to the notion that England were the front-runners to win the tournament on July 14 in Berlin.
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Reflecting on the game, Southgate supported the notion that the team’s situational adaptability was on display. ‘We can be more efficient in the way we played in the first half which will also help us moving forward,’ he stated. ‘This team is still coming together. Everyone is expecting us to waltz but there is a lot of hard work ahead. We’ve had a very complicated run in to all of this but the spirit of the group was on show tonight,’ he added.
The road ahead remains challenging for England, with matches against Denmark and Slovenia on the horizon. Southgate remains realistic about the difficulties that lie ahead, stressing that the team’s continued development is crucial. ‘We understand the challenges we face with Denmark and Slovenia. These matches won’t be easy, but they are necessary steps for us as a team,’ he concluded.
With their resilience and ability to endure tough moments, England displayed a commendable spirit on the field. As the Euro 2024 journey continues, Southgate’s emphasis on unity and adaptability may very well prove to be the keys to their success.
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