When I woke up, England won again. But in the comment area, it was like losing, and the Three Lions were ridiculed for not winning beautifully. "Play the most healthy football and be the most religious England", netizens complained fanciously. But whether you like it or not, England made it to the last four and were just two wins away from the title.
England under coach Southgate have their own unique winning pattern: they don't win in regular time, often concede goals first, rely on the individual ability of their stars to turn it back, and finally decide in extra time or penalties. Although the field is not dominant, it always wins. This time, they broke the curse of 28 years of penalty winless in the European Cup, which is of great significance.
England under Gareth Southgate has been criticised for its tactics and personnel, but it has achieved great results. The semi-finals of the World Cup, the runner-up of the European Cup, and the semi-finals of this European Cup, can such results not be excellent? Is the South Gate capable or incompetent? Welcome to leave a message to discuss!
"Wellness football" can also be won, England is so capricious. Although he was complained, he is getting closer and closer to the championship, which may be the "success of the mystery" of the South Gate coach. What do you think?
English-style "health football" is both loved and hated
The performance of the England team in this European Championship can be said to have fans love and hate. What I love is that they have passed all the way to the top four, and what I hate is that their game is too "healthy".
To put it simply, it means not seeking merit but seeking no fault, taking not conceding a goal as the first priority, and scoring the best goal on the offensive end, and not forcing it if it can't score. England's record of 1 win and 2 draws in 3 group games speaks for itself, scoring just 2 goals in 3 games and conceding only 1.
After entering the knockout round, England's "health" level has reached a higher level. Against Slovakia, they conceded a goal before winning the equaliser thanks to Bellingham's magical barb and finally advanced through a thrilling penalty shoot-out. In the round of 8 against Switzerland, it was 0-1 down in regular time, and Saka's goal equalized the score, and finally won on penalties.
In such a game process, the fans shouted: "Where can I reason?" I won the game, but I felt like I had lost. England's performance on the pitch was a serious mismatch for the quality of their players. With superstars such as Kane, Jack Grealish, Foden and Bellingham, they can't play beautiful attacking football, which has disappointed many fans.
Some netizens joked: "In order to prevent tactics from being cracked, there are simply no tactics!" Someone else said: "Play the most healthy football, be the most poor England." The jokes, while exaggerated, also reflect fans' dissatisfaction with England's style of play.
However, it has to be admitted that this kind of "health football" does work. England have reached the semi-finals of two consecutive tournaments, including the final of the last European Championship. Although the process is not pretty, the result is real. This begs the question, in football, is the process or the result important?
The success of the South Gate coach
Speaking of the "health football" of the England team, we have to mention their manager Gareth Southgate, nicknamed "Southgate". Gareth Southgate is arguably one of the most controversial managers in football today, and his coaching ability has always been questioned, but he has always led his team to good results.
Southgate's tactical thinking is actually very simple: defend first, and attack depends on individual ability. Under his management, England's defensive system has been quite solid, conceding just three goals in five games. However, the offensive end is lackluster, and it is often up to the individual ability of the players to break the game.
This tactic, while conservative, showed its superiority in the knockout stages. While other teams have been experiencing a decline in fitness in successive high-intensity matches, England have been able to maintain a relatively high level of fitness. That's why they always win in extra time or penalty shootouts.
Southgate's hiring is also often confusing. For example, he insisted on starting an in-form Foden and leaving Grealish on the bench. But it is undeniable that his substitutions are often timed, and he has repeatedly turned the situation around with the right person at critical moments.
Interestingly, Southgate himself doesn't seem to be in the skeptical world. In his post-match interview, he said: "Our goal is to win the game, it doesn't matter how we do it. This attitude of not caring about the process and focusing only on the result may be the key to his success.
So, is Southgate a capable coach or a lucky one? It is difficult to have a definitive answer to this question. But one thing is for sure, and that is that he is leading LinkedIn Gran to make history.
The Future of England: Change and Change
With a promotion to the last four, England are one step closer to the trophy. However, it is worth pondering whether their "healthy football" style can continue to work.
On the one hand, this conservative style of play really works, minimizing mistakes and physical exertion. On the other hand, as the opponent improves, it may be difficult to win by relying solely on defense and individual ability. Especially in the semi-finals and finals, England may need to show more aggression against opponents of equal or stronger strength.
Some analysts believe that Southgate should unleash more of his team's attacking potential. For example, starting Jack Grealish and giving Foden more freedom could create more chances to score. But the question is, will changing the existing tactical system affect the overall balance of the team?
In any case, England have proven that they are a team capable of competing for the title. Their "wellness football" style isn't flashy, but it's effective. Perhaps, this is what makes them unique. As one fan put it: "England are like a seasoned martial artist who doesn't want to be fancy, just to win."
Will England continue to stick to their style in the upcoming games, or will there be a change? The answer to this question will soon be known. Regardless of the result, I believe England will give us a good game. After all, the charm of football lies not only in the victory or defeat, but also in the wonderful moments along the way.
What do you think of the England team's "healthy football"? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area to discuss!