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Text: Athletic Storm
Sportstorm
Preface
England's performance in the quarter-finals of the European Championship can be described as thrilling. The highly-anticipated team were almost overwhelmed by Switzerland in 120 minutes of regulation time before narrowly equalising until the final moments.
The ensuing penalty shootout made the fans' hearts beat faster, but fortunately, the England players withstood the pressure and finally advanced to the semi-finals by a narrow margin. The game not only showed the resilience of the England team, but also exposed their lack of attacking organisation.
From the opening to the final whistle, England's performance can be described as twists and turns. Their thrilling promotion has undoubtedly given the team and fans a deep wake-up call: there is still a long way to go before they can go far in a top-level competition like the European Championship.
England's performance in this game can be described as disappointing. A team that is widely favoured, they have been firmly pressed by the Swiss for most of regulation time.
In the first 60 minutes, England's attack was almost inconclusive, and the players seemed to be lost in the Swiss team's defensive net. It wasn't until the 64th minute that a world-class strike from young star Bukayo Saka equalised for England and averted a potentially humiliating defeat.
This lackluster performance exposed serious problems in the attacking organisation of the England team. As the team's leading scorer, Harry Kane could hardly find a threatening chance throughout the game.
The midfield trio of Raheem Sterling, Phelps and Jude Bellingham also struggled to create effective attacking opportunities for the side. This undoubtedly presents manager Gareth Southgate with a serious challenge: how to open up against a well-defended opponent? England's attacking woes are no accident.
In the group stage of this European Championship, they have already shown this problem. England have scored just two goals in three group games, including a penalty.
This kind of offensive efficiency is clearly not enough to support a team that wants to win a championship. Southgate needs to seriously rethink his team's tactical set-up, and perhaps it's time to consider adding more speed strikers or try something completely new.
However, in the face of great pressure, the England team showed surprising mental qualities. In the penalty shoot-out, captain Kane took the lead and then the rest of the team also hit the spot.
In the end, with the heroic performance of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, England narrowly won the opponent. This ability to remain calm in crucial moments is a valuable quality that England have developed in recent years.
Looking back at the history of the England team, it is not difficult to see that they have repeatedly lost penalty shoot-outs in major competitions. In the 1990 World Cup semi-finals, Euro 1996 semi-finals, 1998 World Cup round of 16, Euro 2004 quarter-finals, 2006 World Cup quarter-finals, England fell to penalties in all of these games.
Winning the penalty shoot-out this time is undoubtedly an important sign of the improvement of the mental quality of the England team. However, relying solely on penalties to win is clearly not something a team that wants to win the title should be satisfied with.
England will need to face up to their performance in regulation time. Southgate needs to think hard about how to improve his team's attacking efficiency and how to maintain the initiative against tough opponents.
Perhaps, using more speed forwards, or experimenting with some completely new tactical set-ups, are options worth considering. At the same time, England will need to cherish this hard-fought victory.
A truly strong team not only needs outstanding skills, but also needs to have a hard work and tenacity that does not admit defeat. It is with this never-give-up spirit that England has been able to fight their way through adversity.
This is perhaps their most valuable asset. From a more macro perspective, England's performance this time also reflected some of the trends in modern football.
In today's football world, the defense is getting tighter and the attack is getting more and more difficult. How to create opportunities in a limited space and how to stay calm in key moments have become the key factors that determine the outcome of the game.
England's performance in this game exemplifies these characteristics. It is worth mentioning that the performance of young player Bukayo Saka in this game was eye-catching.
Not only did he score the crucial equaliser, but he also showed maturity and consistency beyond his years throughout the game. This undoubtedly gives hope to the England team and points the way for the future development of the team.
However, it is clearly not enough to rely on the excellent performance of individual players. England need to improve their level overall, especially in terms of attacking organisation and taking chances.
Southgate needs to think about how to make better use of his team's strengths and how to adjust his tactics in different game situations. It takes not only the wisdom of the coaches, but also the hard work and cooperation of the players.
In addition, the England team will also need to overcome psychological obstacles. While they showed good mental quality in this game, it remains to be seen if they will be able to maintain that form against stronger opponents.
After all, England have consistently underperformed in major tournaments, and this historical baggage can affect the performance of players at crucial moments. The win, while tortuous, also showed us the potential and resilience of the England squad.
There is still a long way to go, and they still need to continue to improve themselves in many aspects, but with perseverance, their dreams will eventually be achieved. For England, this game is both a wake-up call and an opportunity.
How they learn from this and how they adjust their form in the upcoming games will have a direct impact on their final result in this tournament. The thrilling promotion of the England team has undoubtedly given us a lot of room for thought.
Not only does it reflect the current state of the England team, but it also reflects some of the trends in modern football. England will need to continue to maintain their resilience and fighting spirit in the coming games, while also trying to improve on their shortcomings.
Only then can they truly become a respectable and strong team. As fans, we look forward to seeing a more mature and well-rounded England team.
We hope that they can show better form in the future and win games not just by luck and individual heroism, but by overall quality and tactical quality. Regardless of the result, as long as England can give it their all and show their best form, then they are already winners.
Let's look forward to England's performance in the upcoming games, and let's continue to cheer for the wonderful sport of football.
epilogue
I believe that in the near future, when this turmoil subsides, we will see more wonderful performances on the screen. And then, we will also become a more mature and wiser audience.
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