In the semi-final of the UEFA European Cup that ended on July 11, Beijing time, England successfully advanced to the final with a score of 2-1 against the Netherlands. After the match, England manager Gareth Southgate accepted an official interview with UEFA, analyzing the team's performance in depth and looking forward to the future.
Southgate first highly praised the team's spirit. He said, "The team's performance today was excellent, and every player showed great fighting spirit and team spirit. Particularly noteworthy was the excellent cooperation between the two substitutes at key moments, which fully demonstrated their tacit understanding and determination as part of the team. In the past five to six weeks, members of the team have integrated very well and formed a strong cohesion. No one has lost confidence even in the face of difficulties and challenges, and everyone is waiting for their own moment."
Southgate was full of praise for Watkins, one of the match's heroes. He said: "I am very happy for Watkins, he seized his moment and proved himself in action. In soccer, a lot of players need to perform under pressure and Watkins has just done that. His goal not only gave his team the win, but also earned him more respect and recognition."
Looking ahead to the upcoming final, Southgate said, "That's what we came here for - to make history. We know it's a very tough game because the Dutch are one of the best teams in the tournament. But we have proven ourselves and we are still here and we are still fighting. With this very good performance today, we are confident to take on the next challenges. At the same time, I have to be very happy for all those who have supported us, it is your support and encouragement that has brought us this far."
