July 11th 2024.
England's manager, Gareth Southgate, has once again led his team to the finals of the European Championship, making it two consecutive appearances for the Three Lions. However, as they prepare to face Spain in the final, Southgate has expressed a concern over the fact that his team will have one less day of rest compared to their opponents.
This impressive feat of reaching back-to-back finals is a first for England in the history of the European Championship. The team's journey to the final was not an easy one, as they had to come from behind to defeat the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-final. After conceding an early goal, the team showed great resilience and determination to equalize through a controversial penalty decision, before substitute Ollie Watkins sealed the victory with a late goal in the 90th minute.
Spain, on the other hand, also had to overcome a tough challenge in their semi-final match against France, where they came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory. With this in mind, Southgate acknowledges that his team will have to give their best performance to defeat such a strong opponent, especially with the added disadvantage of having one less day to rest and prepare for the final.
When asked about the team's preference for playing against attacking sides like Spain, Southgate replied with caution, stating that they first need to focus on getting the ball from their opponents who are known for their excellent pressing game. He emphasized the need for his team to be exceptional both with and without the ball, especially in a high-pressure match like a final.
While the extra day of rest may be a concern for Southgate, he remains confident in his team's abilities and is determined to make the most of the limited time they have to prepare. He also reflected on the strong bond between the team and their supporters, expressing his joy at being able to give them another memorable night after the team's success in the 2018 World Cup. Despite facing criticism in the past, Southgate feels reconnected with the fans and is grateful for their unwavering support.
In the end, the manager's focus remains on picking the best team to face Spain in the final and delivering a performance that will make both the team and their supporters proud. And with their impressive run in the tournament so far, Southgate believes that they have just as good a chance as their opponents to lift the trophy.
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