Richards & Ferdinand – ‘We can win the tournament playing this way’ | Uefa Euro 2024 | BBC Sport

Richards & Ferdinand – ‘We can win the tournament playing this way’ | Uefa Euro 2024 | BBC Sport

I mean there’s lot’s been made about how England failed to impress going forward um can you make a case for the defense though because that’s has been pretty strong yeah I think it’s been very strong and I think it’s helped them in previous competitions as well I I think the fact that we want to see him on the front foot that’s what we want as as a nation but in terms of the the stats there goals conceded second shots faced fourth you know opposition touches in the Box fourth expected goals against first you know so we could talk about this free flowing football and we all want to see it that’s perfect but you can win a tournament being defensive i i i Italy did it at the last tournament at times when he had two if you look at Real Madrid this season in times I thought they was outplayed in the Champions League they got into a nice shape and sometimes you just got to work with what you got we know what souk is like as a manager he’s pragmatic he wants to be defensive he doesn’t probably know yet how to get the best out of the attacking players but something he does know is the defensive style and there’s nothing wrong with that he’s not going to change his his philosophy now is he not at all I think we saw it in the in the previous tournament as well it’s very very very similar Euro 2020 very very comparable stats in terms of defensively very very strong and sound hard to play against hard to beat the stats very very similar um and you can see it there but the attack is where you want to look at as well very similar again not really offering loads really way down the charts in terms of what we do in attack so the biggest word probably to use for this type of Graphics that we’re seeing here is balance there is a lack of balance between attack and defense but I agree with what michah just said there we can win this tournament playing that way we have individuals that can do that I think where the discrepancy comes with from fans and they’re unhappy happiness comes on they’re saying we want to be excited we see what these guys can do at their clubs why are they not replicating that with with this team and they’re asking the questions of the the manager and and the players and I understand that but results are what you defined by if they win this play in the way we’ve seen them in the first three games who is is going to be bothered about it well of course if I mean that that’s the big word isn’t it if england can go all the way and win it then they’ll all be heroes and everything but if they if they don’t playing this way they’ll you know they’ll people will be questioning it because of the amount of talent that this young England side had well that’s that’s that it that is the frustrating thing at times and I think well I know that’s what the fans want because we’re seeing great players who have played in the Premier League who were played in Germany who playing in Spain doing so well for their clubs that you want England to play on the front foot they want so much more from England they want the energy we’ve just seen a Swiss team that we’ve just said who pressed really well who looked really fit who had stacks of energy not only that but they had quality on the ball we know and we want that our England team to play that way because we’ve got so many very very good players at the minute we haven’t seen that the thing is it is all about winning that’s all it is the last uh Premier League that I won at Manchester United under Alex Ferguson that team was considered a poor team the poorest team that’s won the Premier League do you think we care do you think any of us are bothered or talk about that when we meet up no it’s what’s in the cabinet that counts yeah the rumor is that kobby Mayu will start um taking place of Conor gallaga is is is it sounds like that might be the only change does that surprise you um no it doesn’t surprise me um personally I would love to see um Anthony Gordon in there I would love to see Palmer in there as well um but it doesn’t surprise me that Gareth is going to stick to what he has been doing we’ve just seen the stats in for in terms of defensively and going forward so you’re absolutely right I don’t think Gareth is is going to change I don’t think he’ll make wholesale changes at all I’ve told you the ones that I would make and I think it would add extra pace and and give us a better balance particularly on that left hand side I think Mayu is a good one I I think on the ball he offers something different very comfortable on the ball also can drive when we’ seen him play for Man United the only thing I would say with Mayu tactically the game against um I think was one one of the friendlies they him and rice got on the same line you have to make sure tactically you do you defensive work because there going to be times in the gamees where you’re going to have to soak up pressure and just not switch off we seen it with the young boy tonight uh in Italy’s team he com in fragoli for georgino on the ball terrific but off the ball in them moments in the key moments just don’t switch off but I think it’s positive I agree with Gordon as well in terms of getting us up the pitch running him behind playing uh play in his his natural position as as well and I’m excited I think it’s also encouraging to hear Kelly say about that they looked better in training there was more of a buzz there was more energy and certainly in their intensity it was encouraging to hear her use that the those words and let’s hope that they take that what we saw in the first 30 minutes and what what perhaps Kelly has has seen in training they can take that into the game tomorrow yeah encouraging too that Luke Shaw might be getting close to Fitness I mean he’s been out for a long time he you know but he might get some minutes and who knows down the line that’s definitely encouraging he brings a balance a naturally left footed player on that side and I think when he’s fit he’s a wonderful player but that’s a big if um but I agree with with the guys I think the the the way we finished the game the last group game left me feeling a lot more positive and it’s whether Gareth Southgate will will Implement those changes that he made in that game late on for this game coming forward it’s going to be difficult it is but we we have the players and individuals who can change a game at any moment tactically everyone argues about who should play who shouldn’t play and there’s so many talented players and there’s only one man’s decision that counts how would you like to see England play tactically I I would like us to play in a in a in a a formation that allows the players to play or actually just be told actually we are okay to play out and trust each other I want to see these players where they how they play at their clubs I don’t like the manager just said before in these press conference about oh we we we want to finish off our chance and be more clinical in the final I don’t actually think that’s the problem I think it’s actually getting out to that point and up to that point where we need to be better that’s where Kobe Mayu comes why do you think um England perhaps don’t want to get high up the pitch because you know we see Jon Stones lots of times coming into Midfield it’s not even that even getting a high line why won’t they play that when they’ve got such Pace at the back do you think I think it’s difficult isn’t it I think you you try things in training and sometimes when you get a goal you get a goal subconsciously you just want to to move back I I don’t think South saying to them when you get a goal drop back I just think on the ball is where we’ve struggled at times getting up the pitch to move up as a unit we make one pass we make another pass it comes back and then the first thing you think is Retreat I think bringing Mayu is key into what England need to do going forward getting the passes earlier to to folden or or Bellingham or sacka that is what I think is important I think tactically we can’t ask him to change we can’t ask him to change something that they’ve been doing now he has a way of playing that suits the way that g wants to playing the way he sees his team so I I just think at the moment it’s Personnel Palmer came in the other day and gave us a difference we looked at in full well there’s a guy who doesn’t care what stage it is I’m going to give you what like he going to play and Gordon came on as well zip bit of sharpness and Spark to the team but we’ll see now what the manager does big big big moment for him

Watch as BBC Sport pundits Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand and Micah Richards discuss Gareth Southgate’s style of play, England’s chances and Kobbie Mainoo.

=============

SUBSCRIBE so you never miss out on our best videos
➡️➡️http://bit.ly/1sFodyu

=============

Find us here:

BBC Sport: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BBCSport/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BBCSport
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcsport/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bbcsport

BBC Sport is the home of the biggest sporting events this summer with highlights of Uefa Euro 2024, Wimbledon, and the Paris Olympics.

#bbcsport #euro2024

Richards & Ferdinand – ‘We can win the tournament playing this way’ | Uefa Euro 2024 | BBC Sport