Five key issues that are neutering Southgate's Three Lions

COLOGNE, Germany — Booed by its own fans and heavily criticized by the media back home, England's Euro 2024 campaign is off to a stuttering start, despite picking up four points from its opening two games.

An underwhelming 1-0 win over Serbia was followed by a disjointed display in a 1-1 draw with Denmark.

Gareth Southgate's men are still almost certain to make the knockout stages and can win Group C with victory over Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday.

However, Southgate has several fires to fight if the Three Lions are to deliver on pre-tournament expectations that it will become European champion for the very first time.

Problems with the press

In response to questioning over why England has sat back after going in front early in both its opening games, Southgate has conceded his players are not at the physical level needed to press for 90 minutes.

"We are not pressing well enough, with enough intensity," said the England manager. "We have limitations in how we can do that with the physical condition of the players."

A grueling club season for a number of England stars is little excuse, as the likes of Germany, Spain and Portugal have made flying starts with a similar workload also weighing on the legs of their squads.

Indeed, Southgate has hinted the opposite is the case, as many of his squad had not played a competitive 90 minutes for nearly a month before facing Serbia, and he finds himself left hoping they will regain match sharpness as the tournament progresses.

No natural leftback

Southgate's gamble on selecting Luke Shaw as his only natural leftback in a 26-man squad already looks misjudged.

Shaw has not played a minute for club or country since February, and has still not been fit enough to participate in team training in Germany.

With the Manchester United defender set to miss the Slovenia clash, Southgate must now decide if he can risk throwing him straight back into competitive action during the knockout stages, even if the 28-year-old does prove his fitness in time.

Kieran Trippier has deputized ably at leftback, but his tendency to come inside is exacerbated by Phil Foden also wanting to drift infield from a wide left position.

Midfield selection

Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice remain pivotal to England's hopes, despite failing to impress against Denmark, but who plays alongside them in midfield is up for debate.

Southgate's experiment of shunting Liverpool rightback Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield has so far failed to pay off.

Alexander-Arnold has been replaced by Chelsea's Conor Gallagher in both the opening two matches.

Southgate drew opprobrium for saying England lack a natural successor to Kalvin Phillips, who has struggled at club level since playing a starring role at Euro 2020.

Youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Adam Wharton are the other options, but neither has started a competitive international before.

Dealing with expectation

Rarely has England entered a major tournament with greater expectation.

The quartet of Foden, Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane should be the envy of Europe after registering a combined 114 goals in club soccer in the 2023-24 season.

Yet, Rice has admitted the Three Lions are putting so much pressure on themselves to deliver, it is having a negative effect.

"We are all so desperate to do the country proud," said the Arsenal midfielder.

"We are all so desperate to win, to be leaders, to go out there and give people memories of their lifetimes."

Southgate has urged his players to "walk toward the expectations", rather than be frightened by the challenge.

But, the time has now come for England to do its talking on the field.

Can Kane kick on?

Kane was unusually the target for some of the fiercest criticism, despite scoring his 64th international goal against Denmark.

The England captain was replaced with over 20 minutes to go in Frankfurt, and even faced calls to be dropped if his performance does not improve against Slovenia.

However, Kane has been here before, and is by some distance England's most reliable source of goals.

He failed to score in the group stage at both the last Euros and World Cup, before scoring six times in six knockout games at those tournaments.

"I know when major tournament football is on it's always going to be heightened, performance is going to be scrutinized," said Kane.

"If I'm honest with myself, have I played the best that I know I can? No. But, I didn't score in the group stage at the World Cup, I didn't score in the group stage at Euro 2020. So from my point of view, it's a bonus to be one goal ahead."

AFP