Southgate Vows to Play Attacking Football Against Spain, Bemoans One Extra Rest Day for Spanish Team

According to the Spanish newspaper AS, England manager Gareth Southgate, looking ahead to the upcoming Euro final, shared his thoughts on his team’s preparations and the advantages of their opponents, Spain, expressing dissatisfaction that Spain gets one extra day of rest compared to England. Recalling the 2020 Euro final when England was at a slight disadvantage against Italy due to less rest, this unfavorable factor has once again become a point of focus in this match.

Southgate underscored the importance of substitutes for the overall performance of the team: “Sometimes, the turning point of a game comes from a hero on the bench. The key is to ensure every player is ready to go. Although only 11 can start, the remaining 15 must maintain high morale. I’ve been working closely with the players, who have shown great professionalism. While easing pressure, players like Watkins can play a crucial role up front, adept at pressing high and creating opportunities for the team. Now is the perfect time for us to try new strategies.”

He expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall performance: “Foden’s shot almost turned into a goal but was unfortunately blocked; Saka’s performance was commendable, with a notable impact. Statistically, it felt like we were playing away, yet all around us were the voices of our fans.”

Speaking about the match against the Netherlands, Southgate said: “I hope our fans enjoyed a thrilling game. This type of contest often has twists and turns, especially when the decisive goal comes just before the final whistle. My aim has always been to elevate the status of English football on the international stage. We came to Germany to win the title, and now we will face the strongest opponent in the tournament. We’ve reached this stage and still have a chance to win.”

However, he also voiced concerns about Spain’s physical advantage: “Spain has one extra day of rest over us, which is worrying. In past matches, this has been an issue not to be overlooked.”

In Southgate’s view, England lost on penalties in the 2020 Euro final against Italy partly because they had less recovery time than their opponents.

Southgate pledged that despite the challenges, England will give it their all: “Spain’s pressing tactics are excellent, so we must be at our best in possession and organization. We will give the players ample time to recover physically so that we can display outstanding attacking ability against Spain. We want to play attacking football. This won’t be an easy game, but we are ready for the battle.”