Gareth Southgate wary of England changes and 'losing continuity' ahead of Slovakia last-16 clash

Gareth Southgate, the England manager, has expressed caution about making extensive changes to the England team for their upcoming last-16 clash against Slovakia in Euro 2024. Southgate emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity and avoiding the temptation to discard the positive aspects of their performance so far. Despite England's underwhelming performances, Southgate has made minimal alterations to his starting lineup throughout the tournament. This was reported by SSPDaily.

While there were suggestions that Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer, who had made a significant impact as substitutes in the previous match against Slovenia, could be included in the starting XI, it is now understood that Kobbie Mainoo is likely to start the game. However, Southgate is expected to resist the urge to make wholesale changes and instead prioritize maintaining the team's cohesion. He believes that a team's performance is not always as bad or as good as perceived by others and states that they are only about five percent short of their desired level.

Southgate also acknowledged the value of strong bench players who have made significant contributions when called upon. He emphasized the impact of substitutions in recent matches and acknowledged the healthy competition for places within the squad. The manager highlighted the unity and strong training performances of the players, which have put pressure on the starting lineup. Southgate emphasized the importance of player readiness and performance when they are given an opportunity.

Despite England's inability to find the net and register only four shots on target against Slovenia, Southgate sees their performance as a step in the right direction. He attributed the need for improvement to incisiveness, creativity, and composure in the final third of the pitch, while also praising the team's understanding of the game plan. Southgate emphasized the importance of sustained evidence of positive performances and building upon them.

Fitness has been a concern for England both before and during the tournament. Southgate acknowledged the fatigue issues after the warm-up game with Iceland and the team's lackluster display against Serbia. The intensity of Denmark's play in their second game also posed challenges. Jude Bellingham, who has been dealing with personal fitness issues, admitted feeling drained after the game against Slovenia. Southgate acknowledged Bellingham's injuries towards the end of the club season with Real Madrid but expressed confidence in his current condition.

Southgate also praised Bellingham's ability to handle high expectations at a young age, acknowledging that his experiences at such a tender age set him apart from others. The manager expressed his confidence in the team's depth and the impact fresh legs could have in the later stages of matches. While challenges remain, Southgate remained optimistic about the growing confidence within the squad and their ability to improve their performances moving forward in the knockout stages of the tournament.