It was a night of frustration in Frankfurt for the Three Lions and the Danish fans told as much.
“Champions of Europe – you will never sing that,” they shouted in good-natured taunts.
England fans leaving the stadium After the 1-1 draw I had no response.
Only silence amid the complaints about Gareth Southgate’s tactics and whether he is getting enough out of such a talented group.
He is not, most believed.
Still inside the Frankfurt stadium, Southgate tried to explain why he fell short.
“These lads are not lacking in effort at the moment,” said Southgate. “It’s not the case that they’re not trying, but we have to find a better way to play. We have to find more quality in what we’re doing.”
But hearing boos from your own fans can be demoralizing, especially at a tournament.
“If we don’t reach that level…we will have to accept whatever comes our way,” Southgate said.
“We have to find the best way to resolve this. Of course we need the fans.”
Gareth Southgate speaking to defender Kieran Trippier after the game. Photo: PA
Photo: PA
Many have seen it all before – leadership that is earned and not developed.
Against Serbia, holding on was enough for a 1-0 victory in the Group C opener.
Now with four points, that should be enough to take England through to the knockout stages.
But qualification could have been assured – before facing Slovenia on Tuesday – as the group winners had capitalized on Harry Kane’s 18th-minute goal from close range.
But they were very slow. Very sloppy.
English star Jude Bellingham
And Morten Hjulmand was given too much space to equalize 15 minutes after Kane’s opener with a stunning long-range strike.
“I don’t think that’s the fitness level of the team at the moment,” Southgate said.
Whatever Southgate said at half-time didn’t produce the response needed – just a couple of tries from Phil Foden and Declan Rice.
“Our pressing wasn’t intense enough and that meant our defense had problems with players dropping to either side of our pivots,” Southgate said.
“So this is something that needs to be better. We know that with the profile of players we have, we don’t think that the way of pressing is very high on the field”.
Southgate didn’t make a bold decision – he waited until 20 minutes before making a triple change.
This meant, unusually, the removal of Captain Kane.
“The other night took a lot out of him,” Southgate said of Sunday’s 1-0 win over Serbia.
“We could have continued, but we thought it was important to have speed on the front line at that moment, to have energy to be able to press.”
What could change against Slovenia – taking right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold out of midfield?
See more information:
Southgate says there is “a lot of work” to do after Denmark draw
Serbia threatens to leave Euro 2024
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“I understand you will always ask me about individuals, but the team didn’t work today,” replied Southgate. “That’s my responsibility. I’m in control of this. I have to find solutions for this.
“The players are giving absolutely everything they have… in fact, they are showing that they care a lot.”
And it is the country that cares so much about the fortunes of the Three Lions – and their quest for their first trophy since 1966 – that shows there is so much expectation and pressure to deliver.
Especially when the unexpected can happen at a Euro – Greece winning in 2004 and, of course, Denmark in 1992. As they were remembered in those corners here.
For Southgate, the next few weeks in Germany will determine his legacy – and whether he steps down after eight years.
He said: “I have to lead the group in the right way, make smart decisions to find the best balance, to find a greater threat with what we are delivering with the ball.
“And be better without the ball so we don’t have to defend during the long periods of play that we have at the moment.”
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