On July 13th, England’s head coach, Southgate, spoke about the team’s preparations and his views on Spain during a press conference before the Euro Cup final.
Speaking about the penalty shootout losses against Germany in 1996 and Italy in 2020, Southgate said, “I prefer to recall the experiences of the past three weeks rather than dwell on previous defeats. Football is a sport that changes rapidly; success and failure often hang by a thread. Football has given me an amazing life, but there are many other important things in life. It has been an honor to represent England as both a player and a coach. We fear no opponent, we believe in the strength of our team, and we focus more on victory than defeat. I look forward to the upcoming match. This is a great game, and we hope to progress further.”
Reflecting on his eight-year tenure as England’s manager, Southgate said, “Sometimes, we need to overcome difficulties as a team. In the past, England could only watch major tournaments on TV; we needed to change this situation. Now, we have higher expectations, and we are responding to these expectations. In the last three major tournaments, we reached the semi-finals. We broke some records, but we know that only by winning the championship can we regain the respect of the world football community.”
Recalling the 1996 match against Spain, Southgate said, “I performed well in that game, which ended in a 0-0 draw. For any defender, that is a dream come true. I remember Nadal, Luis Enrique, and Kiko. It was a tough match. Perhaps Spain should have won. Matches against Spain are always challenging, one reason they have won so many trophies. They have nurtured many excellent young players who eventually became key members of their first team.”
Regarding recent penalty shootout victories, Southgate said, “Many people were involved in developing the strategy. We have improved our ability to control games and perform under pressure. Now, for instance, we have more players accustomed to taking penalties at their respective clubs.”
Discussing tactical adjustments made by England, Southgate said, “I think we changed tactics in the game. Initially, we faced many issues, especially defensively. Many players played through injuries. We tried to find a balance that suited our attacking players. Our players are very talented, and as the tournament progressed, we found that balance. I am pleased with the team’s improvement.”
Regarding Spain, Southgate said, “I’m not worried. We know how they play. They have a strong pressing game, are very aggressive, and are a balanced team. They are excellent at ball possession and are well-organized. However, in the last two matches, we demonstrated our own formidable strength, and we hope to replicate that performance tomorrow.”
In his final message to the players, Southgate said, “The message I’ve conveyed over the past six weeks hasn’t changed. These moments belong to the players. They don’t need much additional information. I see that they are highly motivated, and mindset and decision-making are critical.”
Regarding his personal feelings, Southgate said, “I am very excited. The team is continuously improving, particularly over the past two weeks. We have an extraordinary atmosphere, and we have a great opportunity to win the championship that we have been striving for.”
