England suffering same problems that weighed down the ‘golden generation’ at so many tournaments

ENGLAND were meant to be the favourites to win Euro 2024. They had some of the world’s best attackers in the shape of Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden and one of the deepest squads at the tournament. So far, though, the Three Lions have underwhelmed in Germany, raising questions over their direction under Gareth Southgate.

This England side was supposed to be different. Players like Bellingham and Foden, not to mention Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Cole Palmer, were billed as the face of a modern, dynamic and likeable national team that could ultimately end the long way wait since 1966 for a World Cup or European Championship title.

Two games into Euro 2024, though, and Southgate’s England are being weighed down by many of the same issues that stopped the country’s so-called ‘golden generation’ from reaching its full potential two decades ago. History is repeating itself as England struggle to get going at yet another major tournament.

The trust between Southgate, the media and England’s own support has disintegrated. While England supporters used to chant about the former defender being “the one,” now they are more likely to moan about his team selections and negative tactics. Patience is wearing thin. Southgate himself has admitted this could be his last tournament as manager.

A siege mentality might help England build some momentum at Euro 2024, but two subpar displays against Serbia and Denmark have warranted criticism. While Harry Kane might have taken exception to Gary Lineker labelling England’s performances at the tournament “s***,” the Match of the Day presenter was right in his assessment.

“We are disappointed with the two performances we’ve had so we’ve got to go and analyse that in depth and find some solutions to addressing the issues that we have,” said Southgate after the insipid 1-1 draw against Denmark in England’s second group game. “We know the level has to be higher. Maybe the biggest thing is we have to accept the environment that we’re in and the expectation around this.”

Just like England managers of the past, Southgate has struggled to find the right balance in midfield. Despite taking talented youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton to Germany, Southgate experimented with playing Trent Alexander-Arnold in the centre of the pitch. The ploy failed against Serbia and Denmark.

It might not be a debate as heated as the debate around Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, but England’s midfield at Euro 2024 has been the subject of much discussion with England’s issues in the centre having a knock-on effect on the attack. Indeed, the Three Lions have looked toothless in the final third.

Questions have also been asked of England’s intensity levels with Southgate openly admitting that his team haven’t pressed in the way he wanted in the first two matches of Euro 2024. “We have limitations in how we can do that with the physical condition,” said the Three Lions boss. “We can’t press as high up the pitch as we might have done in the -qualifiers, for example.”

England’s ‘golden generation’ had similar issues when many claimed the Premier League season drained them physically and mentally before a major tournament in the summer. Is English domestic football too competitive for the national team’s best players to perform at the top level of the international game?

There’s still time for England to find top form at Euro 2024, but the Three Lions are currently suffering major tournament PTSD. David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Gerrard, Lampard and the rest went through this sort of thing two decades ago and it’s up to Kane, Bellingham, Foden and co. to prove they’re different.

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