On June 25th, ahead of England’s second group match in the European Cup against Slovenia, manager Gareth Southgate stated that he thoroughly enjoys coaching the national team and is not swayed by external doubts or criticism.
In the first two group games, England had a modest 1 win and 1 draw, accumulating 4 points and topping the group, though their overall performance fell short of expectations, resulting in widespread critique.
Southgate said, “I haven’t paid heed to expert opinions; it holds no weight for me. My primary focus remains on guiding the players through each match. England is a high-profile team, and there’s immense anticipation, and I’m content with our current standing. When it comes to self-critique, I’m my own toughest critic. The atmosphere within the squad is strong, and while external noise may be present, it doesn’t affect us. Of course, we strive for improvement, and I constantly reflect on what we’re doing and how we can elevate our performance.”
