25 June 2024 , 20:48
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Ian Wright couldn't help but nod along to Gary Neville's assessment that Gareth Southgate's England are "basic" despite their clear individual quality.
The Three Lions have already reached the round of 16, courtesy of Spain's victory over Albania on Monday night. But victory over Slovenia would ensure finishing top of Group C, as well as potentially quieten some of the harsh criticism aimed toward Gareth Southgate's camp.
The England players were in the crosshairs of many ex-Three Lions internationals following their turgid 1-1 draw with Denmark in their second group stage clash. The nature of the performance only exacerbated concerns following the narrow 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener.
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England were charged with lacking cohesion and creativity, despite boasting a plethora of elite-level creative players in the starting XI in Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Chelsea star Cole Palmer, Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo and Newcastle's Anthony Gordon on the bench.
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And Neville found himself once again bemoaning England's apparent bland-ness at half-time against Slovenia. "We look really basic, honestly, we look really basic," he said on ITV's coverage. "And it's sad because I think we're better than that. I think the players out there are better than that but I also think the players we've got on the bench are better than that."
Throughout Neville's assessment, Wright was agreeing the whole way through. Slovenia have proven a nuisance in their Euro 2024 campaign thus far, holding both Serbia and Denmark to respective draws while being undefeated in their last eight matches.
Harry Kane rues a missed chance against Slovenia (2024 AMA Sports Photo Agency)Southgate attempted to keep England from being a similar victim, introducing Mainoo at half-time for Conor Gallagher, who had replaced Alexander-Arnold. Palmer replaced Saka with 20 minutes remaining while Anthony Gordon was introduced with just four minutes remaining, marking both players' first appearances in the Euros thus far.
Victory for England over Slovenia would ensure top spot in Group C and thus pit them against the third-placed team from groups D, E or F - with potential contenders the Netherlands following their 3-2 defeat to Austria. Meanwhile, England would play Germany should they finish as runners-up in Group C.
An unlikely third-place finish would mean facing Portugal, though such a scenario would require England to lose to Slovenia while Denmark would need to defeat Serbia.
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