England still have plenty of questions to answer despite seeing off Switzerland to make the last four but their credentials at the Euros are not that of elite winners
Jamie Carragher believes England are “defying football logic” by playing so poorly yet remaining in contention for the Euros.
The Three Lions, for the second game in succession, needed to recover from 1-0 down salvage a knockout contest. This time they managed to see off Switzerland on penalties less than a week after their extra-time success against Slovakia.
Gareth Southgate’s side have largely underwhelmed in Germany despite going in as pre-tournament favourites. England made hard work of their group stage campaign, scoring just twice in three games, and their performance level has barely improved in their two knockout encounters.
Yet they are 90 minutes away from the final ahead of their semi-final with the Dutch next week. Carragher has compared a potential England triumph to that of Greece in 2004 and Portugal in 2016 – two nations who were unspectacular yet managed to lift the trophy.
He wrote in the Telegraph : “When you think of the elite-level winners, France in 2000 or Spain in 2008 and 2012 are still fresh in my memory. If England go all the way, they will not be taking their place in such esteemed company. What we will have witnessed will be comparable to the victories of Greece in 2004 and Portugal in 2016, when a series of underwhelming displays led to improbable success.
“As was the case with the Portuguese eight years ago, England are defying football logic to still be in the conversation. It is highly unusual for a strong nation to play so consistently poorly in a major tournament and reach the semi-final.”
England have now made the semi-finals in three of the four major tournaments that Southgate has been in charge for. The Three Lions boss has been unable to get over the line and end the silverware wait that goes back to 1966, but has the team poised for another crack at history.
Carragher though confessed that England “can’t escape reality.” He went on to say: “We cannot dress it up any other way. England have been extremely lucky, first against Slovakia and now Switzerland. They are through to the last four despite performances, rather than because of them.”
England found themselves on the favourable half of the draw and knew they’d dodge France, Spain, Germany and Portugal until at least the final. Questions remain over the personnel being selected by Southgate and the tactics he’s implementing despite him making notable changes for the Switzerland win.
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