‘The football was atrocious’ | RTÉ panel discuss England’s tactical approach at Euro 2024

‘The football was atrocious’ | RTÉ panel discuss England’s tactical approach at Euro 2024

no I mean Bellingham obvious had an unbelievable season with Real Madrid isn’t he a club for him but we’ seen probably one bit of magic was the overhead kick against lakia that’s a brilliant goal but individually that’s about it he’s done the whole thing Kane doesn’t look himself at all I mean when South get picked the squad for this tournament you thought you know what he’s he’s left Madison at home he’s left greish he’s left McGuire know he’s an injury risk but he’s actually brought these younger players and you know what he might he might freshen all up he might give them the opportunity to play but maybe by by leaving the likes of GRE at home and madis and he’s like thinking well there not going to upset me these young players on the bench they’ll be happy enough to sit there where I can play the likes of ke and and Bellingham and not upset the apple card these experienced players but if you want to be a top manager and you only win trophies which of course the England manager does then you have to make big calls I mean hary Kan I know he scored three goals but he he looked miles off it he really did and if you had a start with Watkins or even Ivan Tony you know they’re looking around thinking well he’s not moving well why why aren’t I getting the start do you think Richie is the sort of manager that is inclined to avoid confrontation as he would see it and sort of takes the least path of resistance no I think on his Squad selection I think he did make big calls he left out greish he left out rashford he left out Henderson which was leaving Gish out a big call really because he had a poor season by his previous standards yeah but I think it’s a fair call I think it was the correct call he looked at a 100 million pound player and said I know you have a huge name big reputation your English terms a superstar but you haven’t been playing you’re staying at home I think that’s a big call I think his selection I I don’t think it’s just about blind loyalty I don’t think he looks at his team and think I think of no football reasons to pick you a lot but I like you have picked you before so pick you again I don’t think that’s what he’s doing I think he genuinely believes that that’s the most solid structured team that meets his version of how this team should play and can play and go back to two and a half hours ago they were walking out to a final their second Euro’s Final in a row so the choices are Vindicated his approach in one way you can turn around and go but are been case when most would agree that H he had probably the best Squad in the entire tournament at his disposal even better than Spain yeah he’s reluctance he relu I find myself just in cost him I agree with a lot of what’s being said but because nobody at all is giving an ounce of balance I find myself overly giving the alternative Viewpoint I agree there’s a tendency to play players where you think Kan has shown you enough take him off Bellingham looks knackered the mind’s reputation take him off but in s G’s mind sou G’s mind I I don’t think he’s sitting there going I can’t take him off because the player will think less of me or the player will upset the atmosphere in the dress I just think he thinks like the Slovakia game if I keep him on they’re players that can deliver big moments that’s quite though pinning your hopes on on on really good players who’ve dived him that’s management that’s management yeah but it did it didn’t it didn’t bring him a trophy and and the the football was atrocious out of the 10 worst games in the tournament England was responsible for seven yeah six the Netherlands game was okay Netherlands the first half and the thing is you see that Kane whether he’s why he’s not moving I do not know but I don’t care it’s not my problem they’ve they’ve got a they’ve got a doctor there physios now they’ve been behind in in all the games in the knockout games including today in four games they’ve been behind now if you have played Watkins who we’ve seen there was a through ball from Bellingham where he miss controls it all of a sudden it’s dangerous Palmer comes on he scores after 5 minutes now imagine if this team goes ahead in one of the games imagine playing with foden you bring a on you bring Gordon on you know if this team is ahead they won’t be packed back they won’t be packed back because of got players on the bench two three with ultimate Pace you bring these players on and they will run Riot they never had a chance to show it because he insisted on starting with Bellingham with Kane with the same players who didn’t perform on on on on every game they play they didn’t perform so they’ve they’ve never been given a chance to go ahead in a game in The Knockout stages because he’s picked these players yeah and if they had gone ahead I don’t think there would would have been too many teams in the tournament who come back against England because the pace they’ve got probably apart from France no other the team has sh you were smiling there when Diddy said that the football from England was I knew coming but but and you know but would you agree with’s yeah I mean it’s it’s very difficult again I live in England so I know what the media can be like they can be cruel and then a sense that maybe South gets sort of happy or protected like just getting there or just about getting to the final and and they look at a success the first Final in foreign soil you know hear all these different things back toob back Euro finals they’re trying to pick all the positives but at the same time I just feel like the fans in England be looking at the squad of players they have and Richie mentions a few players I forgot about rashford and Sterling and all these other players and I actually think that’s because the manager doesn’t want the these big name players on the bench cuz they’ll be going I should be playing get me the pitch so it’s easier to leave the younger ones on inexperienced ones well you’re not going to play because the these are my blue chip Brigade or whatever well even Watkins was complaining that he but Watkins even Watkins came on he was pressing the goalkeeper sprinting to the center half and it was rushing speing it they clearing the ball up the pitch Harry Kane’s press was a jog they were just passing through it it was non-existent you know so look I don’t know what where England go from me it’s just frustrating because it’s it’s I think they they could have played a lot better the Dutch first half where they were brilliant and England fans are going oh my goodness if we can play like that in the final we’ve got a great chance but again the final they’ve been disappointing

Didi Hamann, Shay Given and Richie Sadlier discuss Gareth Southgate’s tactical approach at Euro 2024 and whether he was overly loyal to underperforming stars such as Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane