In the second group match of the European Cup C group, Kane scored first, followed by Elmehdi’s equalizer, ending in a 1-1 draw for England against Denmark. Post-match, England manager Southgate spoke with the media.
Southgate said, “It wasn’t what we wanted. We didn’t capitalise effectively on the ball. We knew we needed to find another level. And naturally, the audience would be disappointed with our performance; we must improve.”
When asked if he instructed the team to defend deeper after the goal, he replied, “No. I felt that the team we were facing had a flexible backline, and it wasn’t easy to exert pressure. But we could have done better in those two games. Holding onto possession was another issue.”
Regarding Arnold’s performance and substitution, he explained, “There were moments where he lived up to our expectations. It was an experiment. We knew we didn’t have a natural replacement for Phillips. We’re trying different approaches, but so far, it hasn’t been as we’d hoped. I wanted to bring Gallagher on. We needed energy and more pressing – Gallagher has done well in that regard.”
About taking Harry Kane off, he said, “We needed energy. We’ve played two matches closely together, and fresh legs and energy were crucial. I think Kane has basically played 90 minutes in almost every game over a month, so that was the decision we made.”
Gareth Southgate: Arnold cannot replace Phillips, Kane’s sub was due to fatigue. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/gareth-southgate-arnold-cannot-replace-phillips-kanes-sub-was-due-to-fatigue.html
