Gareth Southgate: Reaching Semi-Finals Again, But It’s Not the End Goal

On July 7th, in the UEFA Euro quarterfinals, England and Switzerland battled for 120 minutes without a clear winner, ultimately deciding the match with a 5:3 victory in a penalty shootout. After the game, England’s manager Gareth Southgate attended a press conference.

About the Match

Southgate: I thought we played very well tonight. Switzerland is a difficult team to play against. We had to be good without the ball, disciplined defensively. We had to adapt and put pressure on them. We knew Saka could make a difference in those areas. Football isn’t just about playing beautifully; sometimes you have to find ways to win, like Spain did last night. England is progressing, and I’m incredibly proud of my players.

About the Penalty Shootout

Southgate: We’ve practiced a lot for penalties. Out of four shootouts, we’ve won three now. The result in the 2020 Euros was painful. But the boys delivered, and they’ve shown the fruits of their training. For a player like Saka, who has had some difficult experiences in shootouts, to step up under that immense pressure is tremendous. And then there’s the goalkeeper, whose save gave us the opportunity.

About Saka

Southgate: He’s a dream to work with, an amazing young man with great professionalism. It’s a pleasure to have him around. He showed courage to everyone, and we have faith in him. With or without the ball, Saka is exceptional.

About Tactics

Southgate: Our aim is to control possession, but your opponents don’t allow that easily. The team faced immense pressure from the start, but they coped admirably. We haven’t scored many lately, but reaching the semi-finals in three of the last four major tournaments isn’t our final ambition.

About Kane

Southgate: He leads this team fantastically, guiding the younger players. When he went down, I felt we needed fresh legs, so I brought on Tony, another penalty taker.