After leading England into the Euro finals with a 2-1 win over the Netherlands, England boss Gareth Southgate attended a press conference to summarize the game and give his thoughts on the team, the fans, and the recent criticism he has received.
Southgate began by emphasizing the team's resilient character as the reason why the team came from behind to win the game. He argued that despite the team falling behind at one point in the game, the players did not give up but turned the situation around through the right decisions and team efforts. In particular, he pointed out that the team's possession rate reached 60% in the match, which was rarely seen in England's matches against the Netherlands, showing the team's resilience and modern style of soccer.
Southgate expressed his great satisfaction with the quality of the team's play and made special mention of the contribution of players such as Ollie Watkins. He emphasized that there were many new players in the team, who lacked experience in big games but were united and supportive of each other and made a significant contribution to the team's victory. In addition, he praised the excellent performance of the fans who traveled to the tournament, stating that their support was the driving force behind the team's progress.
Southgate appeared to be very open when talking about the criticism he has received recently. He admitted that as the national team manager, he craves for support and recognition from the fans, but sometimes that support is not always easy to come by. However, he was not discouraged by this and chose to prove himself and his team's strength with practical actions. He said it was a tough task to lead England to the Euro finals, but he and the team are here to fight for honor for the country and the fans.
Finally, Southgate once again thanked the fans for their support and said that he would be celebrating the momentous occasion just like them. He emphasized that the team and the fans are kindred spirits in many ways, sharing the joy of victory and the pain of defeat. He believes that the team will continue to work hard in the coming matches to bring more exciting games and unforgettable nights to the fans.
