By Dortmund, Germany– England is poised to face the Netherlands in the semi-finals in Dortmund on Wednesday, aiming to move closer to winning the competition for the first time in their history.
Pre-tournament favorites England secured their semi-final spot with a morale-boosting penalty shoot-out victory over Switzerland. However, their inconsistent performances in Germany have drawn significant criticism.
At a press conference, Manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged that his players struggled under the weight of high expectations and external pressure during the group stage. Despite this, he expressed delight at their improved mindset, which he partially attributed to singer Ed Sheeran’s visit to their training base before the last-16 match against Slovakia.
“There has been a definite shift,” Southgate remarked. “Over the past seven or eight years, one of our strengths has been playing with less fear and inhibition. At the tournament’s start, the heavy expectations and external noise affected us. However, the players managed to grind out results and find ways to win.”
Southgate noted a marked improvement as the team progressed to the knockout stages and into the quarter-finals. “We saw a better version of ourselves with the ball, playing more freely. It wasn’t necessarily a change in messaging, but rather a change within the group,” he explained. “Now, we’re in a moment where we focus on what’s possible and achievable, rather than fearing what might go wrong. This shift is significant for athletes.”
He emphasized the historic opportunity before them: “This is a chance to make history and reach our first European Championship final not held in England. We’re trying to break new ground, and while that’s challenging, the players have responded brilliantly. Their resilience has built a strong team spirit.”
Southgate also highlighted the importance of bonding experiences off the field. “We’ve been very fortunate to have Ed Sheeran come and sing for us, and the players enjoyed a couple of beers before the last game. Such moments help build team spirit, but nothing strengthens it more than crucial on-field moments, like defending in the 92nd minute or searching for a goal in the 96th minute.”
England now stands on the brink of making history, with a semi-final clash against the Netherlands that promises to be a defining moment in their campaign.
