The cry "Football's coming home" from England supporters during big tournaments is not new. When David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, and the Lightning Seeds released it in front of the 1996 European Championship held in their own country, it instantly became the national anthem.
However, it has typically been sung with hope rather than expectation. The Three Lions have been unable to succeed on the grandest stage for an extended period, even though they have a wealth of excellent players from multiple generations. The supporters eventually grew accustomed to disappointment. When England started competing in international tournaments, very few genuine football fans dared to dream.
All that changed with the arrival of Gareth Southgate, who missed the game-winning penalty in England's semi-final shootout loss to Germany in 1996. There was an air of sincere belief when the cry reverberated around Borussia Dortmund's famous Westfalenstadion on Wednesday night.
Although it wasn't lovely, England defeated the Netherlands in a close match and advanced to the next round of the European Championship. Along the road, Southgate has been written off, mocked, and showered with cups, but he has always responded to the hate with composure and steadfast determination. And now, ignoring his evident shortcomings as a coach, he's only one win away from receiving the compensation he is due.
VAR Raises Concerns About Impact on Game
England deserved to win, but the Netherlands had every right to feel cheated. Kane's penalty was one of the softest calls you will ever see, and it was the game's most pivotal moment.
When Kane went down in the area following a volley that flew over the bar, there were no genuine complaints for a spot-kick, and if the England captain hadn't been acting so theatrically, Dumfries would have likely gotten away with his late follow-through. Kane had already taken a shot, a sincere attempt to win the ball. Felix Zwayer, the match referee, obviously didn't think twice about it at first, indicating a goal kick.
Then VAR stepped in, though. Zwayer had to review the pitch-side monitor when video assistant referee Bastian Dankert suggested a penalty. In 99 percent of cases, that results in the same thing. After a foul was eventually called, Kane somehow bounced back from the hit to advance and shot the ball low into the net.
Koeman was understandably incensed by the occurrence. This isn't a punishment. All he [Dumfries] wanted to do was stop a shot. Then Harry Kane fires, causing their feet to collide," he told reporters. "VAR's rulings of this nature are destroying football. In England, this punishment would not have been imposed. How should a defender like you respond?
The renowned Dutchman is correct about VAR. It severely ruins the natural flow of matches, so even if you agree with most of the judgments, the sight of football has become far less entertaining. But it won't matter to England. Southgate's mantra throughout this tournament has been that sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.
Undoubtedly, the Berlin Olympiastadion will provide England with their most significant test of Euro 2024 to date. With good reason, Spain is the clear favorite to win the championship. With only three goals allowed and 13 goals scored—the highest total in the competition—Luis de la Fuente's team has won all six games.
There hasn't been much good football in Germany this summer. Spain has been an anomaly in a series of chess-like matches determined by the narrowest of margins when the main objective has been to avoid defeat.
La Roja has been incredible, dashing opponents with quick, incisive passing and a ruthless edge in the final third. The 16-year-old sensations Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams spearhead their charge, while Fabian Ruiz and Rodri pull the strings in midfield. England will have a callous order to stop Spain's dangerous men, but they can accomplish it.
Though their draw has been significantly more accessible, the Three Lions have, on the whole, looked extremely strong defensively. England's main issue was the need for attacking fluidity as they encountered several sides happy to play a low block.
The prospects for Spain will be very different, which might work to England's advantage. La Roja's better technical ability will keep them pushed back towards their own goal for extended periods, but there may be more space on the counter for players like Foden, Bellingham, and Saka to exploit.
There's a case for starting Watkins over Kane to stretch the Spain defense, as Florian Wirtz's and Bradley Barcola's pace damaged them when they replaced Germany and France, respectively, in the previous rounds. However, England should be able to play more expansive, direct football than they have so far, and an upset is feasible even if the captain keeps his place.
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