Jeers from fans as England struggle
Draw with Denmark enough to advance at Euro 2024 but tardy display dismays coach
Where England stand after two European Championship games is the envy of most teams. Just not good enough yet to have title ambitions.
A 1-1 draw yesterday with Denmark — semifinalists last time, don’t forget — means England are unbeaten and all-but certain to advance to the round of 16.
It also was a slack, mistake-filled display that left coach Gareth Southgate angrily gesturing at his players for gifting a slew of chances late in the game.
“The team didn’t function today, that is my responsibility,” said Southgate, who heard jeers from fans behind the England goal in a ragged second half.
Harry Kane gave England another fast start at Euro 2024, scoring in the 18th minute, but the captain was substituted off in the second half as the team faded.
Denmark levelled in the 34th when Morten Hjulmand fired in a powerful low shot from long distance, after Kane gave away the ball in defence.
Eight years with Southgate has earned England sustained tournament success. The Three Lions reached the final of Euro 2020 — after beating Denmark in the last four — and a semifinal and a quarterfinal at the past two World Cups.
“We’re in the environment of winning on the biggest stage,” the coach acknowledged, adding “you have to accept what [criticism] comes our way.”
England have never won backto-back games to begin a Euros and a pattern of second-game syndrome has repeated at three straight tournaments.
Opening wins in the past three years have been following by tepid 0-0 draws with Scotland and the United States, now a 1-1 with the Danes who deserved more.
“I can’t say we are disappointed but it’s a shame,” Denmark coach
Kasper Hjulmand said. “There is a result we could have gotten.”
Still, England started Euro 2024 by beating Serbia 1-0 and now sit top of Group C with four points. That tally always has been enough to advance in the 24-team Euros format where four third-place teams from the six groups advance to the round of 16.
England can finish in any position from first to third in the Group C standings after playing unbeaten Slovenia next Tuesday.
Southgate had defended his players from what seemed like unfair criticism for the nervy nature of the win against Serbia, ceding some control after Jude Bellingham’s early goal.
Bellingham was subdued yesterday and Southgate removed the stellar strike trio of Kane, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in one sweep in the 69th. Jarrod Bowen, Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins came on. Within two minutes Watkins almost scored with a shot after a darting run.