Gareth Southgate: England Takes ‘Step in the Right Direction’

England manager Gareth Southgate expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress after they advanced to the knockout stages of Euro 2024. Speaking to the media, Southgate highlighted the control and composure his team displayed during the match, particularly in the second half.

Southgate noted that England dominated the game, especially after the break, keeping their opponents confined to their half. He acknowledged that while there were opportunities to improve ball usage, the team created several strong chances to secure a win. The contributions from the substitutes were also praised, as they made a significant impact on the game.

Despite facing a challenging environment, Southgate was pleased with how the players handled the pressure, maintaining their calm and avoiding the urge to force plays that could have resulted in loss of control. He emphasized that the team sensed the crowd’s frustration but remained composed, with the fans showing excellent support in the latter half of the match.

Looking ahead, Southgate believes there is still potential for further improvement, but he saw promising signs in the team’s performance. As England prepares for the next stages of Euro 2024, Southgate’s comments reflect a positive outlook on their journey so far.

The Three Lions boss told media: “I thought we pretty much had control of the game, especially in the second half. We had them pretty much pinned in their half.

“We felt we could use the ball a bit better in that second period. I thought we did that, we had a couple of very good chances to win the game.

“Good impact from the boys who came off the bench. I thought it was a step in the right direction.

“We know there’s still more to come, but I thought we saw some signs of that.

“It’s been a difficult environment for us, the players dealt with that well. They stayed calm.

“Sometimes you can flap when things don’t come, you force things and you can lose control of the game. They didn’t do that.

“Of course they sensed the frustration, but the crowd were excellent in the second half.”