July 10th 2024.
In a recent press conference, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman defended England's performance at Euro 2024 and praised their "world-class players." Despite criticism of their playing style, Koeman believes that England has what it takes to defeat Spain in the upcoming final.
England's journey to the final has been marked by some impressive victories, including a 2-1 win over Koeman's Netherlands team in the semi-final. While the Netherlands took an early lead with a spectacular goal from Xavi Simons, England fought back and were awarded a penalty for a foul on Harry Kane. The captain calmly converted the penalty, and in the dying minutes of the game, substitute Ollie Watkins scored a stunning goal to secure the win for England.
Throughout the tournament, England and their manager Gareth Southgate have faced criticism for their performances, but Koeman believes they have shown enough quality to make it to the final. When asked about the criticism that England has been "boring" to watch, Koeman responded by saying, "I think England showed great football in the first half after [going] 1-0 down." He also acknowledged that Spain is a formidable opponent, but that England has the potential to stop them.
Koeman's confidence in England's abilities is not unfounded. Under Southgate's leadership, England has reached the final of the European Championship for the second time in a row. When asked if his Netherlands team was content with just reaching the semi-final, Koeman dismissed the idea, saying, "No, that's not the case. If you play in a semi-final, of course, you want to do your best and go for everything because you want to play in the final."
He also recognized that England's strong midfield, with players such as Foden and Bellingham, posed a challenge for his team. Despite having a lot of possession, the Netherlands struggled against England's quality and had to adapt their game plan. Koeman acknowledged that England's success is not just due to their own performance, but also because of the quality of their opponents.
As the final approaches, Koeman remains confident that England has the ability to defeat Spain and become European champions. He believes that the team's success is a testament to their talent and determination, and that they have the potential to overcome even the toughest of opponents. The highly-anticipated final between England and Spain will take place this Sunday at 8pm.
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