PLAYERS PANEL | ENGLAND REACTION AND TOURNAMENT SO FAR

Our Players Panel have spoken

We have gathered together a Players Panel, which features players from across all four divisions of the Pitching In Southern League. They will share their thoughts on EURO 2024 as we go through the tournament.

We asked them for their assessment of England’s draw with Denmark and their thoughts on the tournament so far…

CONOR McDONAGH | It was a boring game against Denmark, if I’m honest, but nothing to worry about, I think Danes are a decent side and shouldn’t be seen as a game we should win by three or four goals. I do think the team needs changing and I would like to see Eze start the next games. I thought Guehi was brilliant again also which was great to see. I think the tournament has been brilliant. There’s been comebacks and loads of goals, which is all we want to see. Germany have been the most impressive so far from what I’ve seen. Let’s hope it continues.

TOM HANDLEY | It was a disappointing game on Thursday. You could argue that the tactics weren’t right, but it was also clear that the players didn’t turn up either. Still it was a point and we’re top of the group, but we need to improve massively if we want to go far in this tournament. It’s been an unreal tournament overall. It’s had everything; every game has been close, long range goals, last minute winners. I am just enjoying the fact that I can watch football every day! I am looking forward to the knockout stages now.

AARON ROBERTS | For England, four points is pretty much job done, but I haven’t enjoyed either game in terms of how we’ve played. Against Denmark we were very disjointed, there were lots of misplaced passes and the team looked imbalanced. Whatever happens, I hope this is Gareth Southgate’s last tournament. Also, the substitutions aren’t making any sense. I have really enjoyed the tournament as a whole so far. It’s been a mixed bag in terms of everyone’s performances but there have been some excellent goals and I like the fact that smaller nations are approaching every game to win, even against the big nations. Very refreshing to see.

HENRY SNEE | I think the performance against Denmark was very poor and if we had come up against a more ruthless side, we would’ve got absolutely nothing out of the game. At the moment England lack an identity for a team with so much talent and it’s very frustrating. I think the tournament so far has been brilliant, as most major international tournaments are. End-to-end football with the best games coming between the underdogs.

MATT BRITTON | I think disappointing is the word I would use to describe the performance against Denmark. Again, we started well and got the early goal, but then lacked any sort of positivity after that. We got overran in midfield and the whole balance of the team just didn’t work. I am the first to call people out when they are negative about England, but that was a tough watch on Thursday. To be honest, I haven’t seen much other than the England games as I have been on holiday for the majority of the tournament. It looks like there has been some decent games already though and some very good goals. I’ll be back for the knockout stages so I am looking forward to watching the remainder back in the UK.

OWEN HOWE | Thursday’s performance was very poor. We didn’t seem to have a positive game plan and it showed in the way we played. The players were happy to just sit behind the ball and not lose. When we had the ball, it wasn’t good enough as we had no runners in behind. But, we didn’t lose so it’s onto the next game on Tuesday. The tournament has been good generally. Constant football for a whole month, what’s not to like?! Get the group stages done and then the real stuff gets going – bring it on…

DANNY YOUNG | I thought Thursday’s performance was very similar to the first match. A good start but as soon as we went 1-0 up, we sat back and allowed them back into the game. We looked scared to press and stay high. They punished us and were probably the better side if I’m being honest. We lacked a lot of shape - particularly wide left and we looked a little ragged in the middle of the park. I have loved the tournament so far. There have been some fantastic games with sides playing to win, which has been good to see. The standard of the tournament has been excellent so far, as has the refereeing and even the use of technology (VAR and semi-automated offside).

Thank you to our Players Panel for their thoughts…