England won Group C, but they still need to improve their performance before facing Germany. They had hoped to avoid Germany in the next round by finishing on top, but their overall play has been disappointing. Despite having a strong offense on paper, they have had three lackluster performances without any outstanding moments of brilliance.
Their recent 0-0 draw with Slovenia was especially disappointing. Gareth Southgate's team is starting to take away from an otherwise exciting competition. Slovenia's qualification for the knockout stages added an interesting storyline, but their jubilant celebrations were the only positive aspect.
While England is leading their group, there are significant difficulties that persist. Jude Bellingham's form has dipped since his good start to the competition, raising concerns for Southgate. The manager's unwillingness to rotate his roster despite poor performances creates additional concerns, potentially leaving his players weary as they face the knockout stage.
Despite the challenges, there were glimmers of hope, most notably when Cole Palmer injected vitality off the bench, bringing energy to his lethargic team. The Chelsea starlet has untapped potential, raising questions about his starting role in upcoming games.
GOAL evaluates the standouts and disappointments from the action at RheinEnergieStadion.
SUCCESS: PHIL FODEN
Despite poor performances in the first few games, Phil Foden remained in the starting lineup, further exacerbating England's problems on the left wing. However, the Manchester City midfielder's accolades from his exceptional Premier League season validated his inclusion. He provided the tournament's highlight performance in the final group game against Germany.
Foden formed an effective partnership with Kieran Trippier and established himself as England's star performer until Cole Palmer joined the picture. His play was characterized by crafty ingenuity, with the only flaws being two offside infractions that canceled a goal he had set up for Bukayo Saka.
While Foden performed well, his attacking teammates lacked energy and creativity. If Foden maintains his dynamism and improves his finishing, England's tournament prospects are high.
FAILURE: JUDE BELLINGHAM
Where has Serbia's dominant force disappeared? Is this the same player who astounded in his Real Madrid rookie season? Bellingham was glaringly absent from this match, with little influence on the outcome.
He appeared rusty and tired, delivering sloppy passes and unable to initiate any major offensive plays. Bellingham seemed to be on track to win the tournament from the start, but his form has deteriorated significantly since his impressive performance in Gelsenkirchen.
Perhaps it was unavoidable that the weight of his season-long efforts and spectacular performance against Serbia would catch up to him. Nonetheless, Southgate must create a plan to rekindle the fire in his Ballon d'Or candidate.
SUCCESS : SLOVENIA
About 20,000 Slovenian fans traveled to Germany, making up about one percent of the country's total population, to witness a historic moment as their national team qualified for the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time in four attempts.
Slovenia's journey to the last 16 was well-deserved. They showed perseverance by scoring late to draw with Denmark in their first game, came very close to defeating Serbia before conceding a last-minute equalizer, and held their own against England.
Matjaz Kek, who previously led Slovenia to the 2010 World Cup where they almost missed out on qualifying after losing to England, once again demonstrated strong tactical ability. His simple 4-4-2 formation effectively neutralized tougher opponents, preventing clear scoring opportunities.
"Prior to the event, Kek emphasized the importance of pragmatism, confidence, courage, and decisiveness in their approach. His team exemplified these traits, leading to their historic triumph and setting the stage for a crucial period in their journey."
FAILURE: CONNOR GALLAGHER
Many observers agreed that the Trent Alexander-Arnold midfield experiment was ineffective. However, the decision to incorporate Conor Gallagher proved to be much more devastating. The Chelsea midfielder made only 20 passes throughout the game, fewer than Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak. It's surprising he didn't lose control more frequently.
Gallagher's lack of synergy with Declan Rice made England look fragmented whenever they touched the possession. His play lacked composure, and he failed to break through Slovenia's organized defense, which comprised two compact banks of four.
To his credit, Southgate demonstrated humility by admitting his error and quickly replacing Gallagher at halftime with Kobbie Mainoo, the guy who perhaps should have started the game from the beginning.
SUCCESS: COLE PALMER
In his debut on the grand stage of a major tournament, Palmer, the Chelsea prodigy, demonstrated what England had been missing in just 19 minutes. He played with a mix of intensity and daring, continually probing Slovenia's defense whenever he had possession.
Palmer left the field with perfect passing accuracy and England's most promising chance on goal, forcing Jan Oblak to make a critical save in stoppage time. While he may regret missing a scoring opportunity, his brief participation strengthens his case for a larger role in the future rounds, ideally as a starter.
The experts on ITV's coverage in the UK were very impressed with the performance of the Manchester native. Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou said, "Every time he gets the ball, he's trying to take opponents out of the game. His first thought is: How can I eliminate one of the opposition or a whole line of them?" Roy Keane agreed, stating, "I'm hard to impress, and every time he got the ball, I thought something was going to happen."
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