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The group stages have ended, with Group C offering the dullest draws of the tournament so far. Fans witnessed a tepid 1-1 draw between Serbia and Slovenia, matching the scoreline of England’s clash with Denmark.

The other fixture, Denmark-Serbia, ended in a boring 0-0 draw. The only victory in the group was England’s narrow 1-0 England win over Serbia, which was as thrilling as it got in Group C. 

Slovenia is well-placed to qualify as the third-placed team, marking their first qualification since 2000, and they are the only country to find joy in this group. For Denmark, England and Serbia, the fixtures in the group stages have been nothing short of a nightmare.

Big Pay, Big Expectations: Southgate Falls Short

Gareth Southgate is the best-paid coach in the tournament. But he is not the best, despite arguably having one of the most talented squads at his disposal. There’s no hiding the fact that England’s performance has been catastrophic.

Only the first twenty minutes against Serbia, highlighted by Jude Bellingham’s brilliance, were exciting.

The draw against Denmark was disappointing in every sense, with the players struggling to find cohesion. 

Many will remember the failed experiment of moving Trent Alexander-Arnold into the midfield alongside Declan Rice. It was disastrous, as Denmark easily exploited the gaps.

Southgate’s Persistent Tactical Errors

Southgate stuck to his formula, but it still didn’t work. Phil Foden was once again deployed on the left, where he couldn’t weave his magic. England was met with a difficult block by Slovenia, and despite often coming close to scoring, the Three Lions remained unimpressive. 

Fans booed the team, branding England as ‘boring’. England should have won the match by all metrics, dominating possession with around 70%. They had all the tools to make things happen, yet the stars failed to shine, and the crowd made the difference. 

English fans are known for their chants, and they did not disappoint. They raised their voices, booed the team, and chanted passionately. It didn’t matter to them if it would work, and this is the essence of authentic English football culture. 

The first forty-five minutes were forgettable, and the Three Lions returned with more intensity, presumably spurred on by the increasingly loud chants from their fans. push forward, while Slovenia was content with a draw, mirroring the other fixture’s outcome. 

Ultimately, it was clear that if anyone was going to change the game, it had to be England.

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England Tried

With Gallagher, they tried. Many believed he would make a difference, given his commitment to pressing and simplicity in style. Truth be told, even the best player would have struggled. England boasts top talents like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Phil Foden – names that speak for themselves. However, none of them managed to breach Slovenia’s defensive block.

The 0-0 draw is poetic in many ways. Unlike previous matches, several individuals had standout performances. Saka, Foden, and Gallagher all showed glimpses of brilliance. Harry Kane ran more than ever, but it was not enough. The Slovenian wall held firm, content with defending their box. 

Sure, some moments of individual brilliance brought England close to securing three points, but that was the most memorable aspect for fans. Critics pointed to the lack of penetration on the wings due to the absence of dynamic full-backs. I could just recycle the critics of the previous match, as England again emerged as the team that ‘should have won’ on paper through the stats.

There is only one man worth praising above everyone else in England’s squad: Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo. He played the most fluid football, constantly seeking spaces behind the defense and demonstrating clear vision.

England lacks a player with a clear vision and who doesn’t hesitate. The Three Lions still seem troubled when facing any opponent, a puzzling aspect to the naked eye. 

The support from fans is undeniable, but so are the expectations. Southgate has already spoken about the pressure the team feels from the fans. Despite his claims that the team is improving and only ‘lacking the final pass,’ the evidence on the pitch suggests otherwise.

Fan Frustration Boils Over as Southgate Faces Beer Cup Barrage

Fans were noticeably tense as beer cups were thrown toward Southgate during the 0-0 draw against Slovenia. The discontent is loud and clear: pundits keep ranting about the squad’s quality and underperformance. 

Southgate defended himself, claiming he doesn’t see anything similar happening to other teams that qualified. The simple answer is that no team, except France, matches England’s individual talent. 

With great power comes great responsibility, and fans are tired. This generation cannot wait any longer. While many players are young, these are the final years for Harry Kane – arguably the best striker of the season.

“Football’s Coming Home” is sung every two years, but it hasn’t come home in decades. Fans are running out of patience: they lost to France in 2022, to Italy in 2020, and crashed out against Croatia in 2018.

Notable Improvements in England’s Defensive Solidity

The improvement is indeed noticeable. England did not misplace as many passes as it did against Denmark. In the match against Serbia, the criticism was that the team was torn apart by the Serbs after the early opener. England lacked defensive solidity. 

Against Slovenia, the opposite was true: England was strong defensively,  but their attack was lacking. Fans expected better ball control and creativity. Despite multiple attempts and individual effort from the Three Lions, Slovenia held firm, thanks largely to Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak. No matter how many times England tried to shoot, the ball landed in his hands. 

England came close a couple of times, but none of the chances were converted. The Three Lions lacked precision in the final third, and the result was a frustrating draw.

England Awaits Next Opponent as Group Stage Drama Unfolds

Gareth Southgate’s team is now waiting for the rest of the games to unfold to discover their next opponent, which will be a third-placed team from one of the remaining groups. 

As the other groups are far more competitive than Group C, all they can do is wait in front of the TV screen.