After England successfully advanced to the Euro finals with a 2-1 win over the Netherlands, Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate was interviewed by the media and detailed his thoughts on the upcoming showdown with Spain, while recalling the deep emotional bond between the team and its fans.
In the face of Spain, a formidable opponent, Southgate showed both caution and confidence. He knows that Spain's ball control and pressing tactics are extremely good, so he emphasized: "We have to get the ball out of their hands first. They do a very, very good job of pressing, so we have to be great with the ball and we have to play well without the ball." Southgate believes that this is a final against one of the best teams in the tournament, but England have also started to show a better version of themselves and both sides have a chance of winning the title.
At the same time, Southgate also mentioned the potential nuisance that could come from the potential advantage of Spain having an extra day's rest. He noted that this has been a problem for the finalists in the last few tournaments, so England must do everything possible to help their players regain their strength. However, he made it clear that the team will not respond to this by increasing the amount of training they do, but will instead freshen up their tactics through team meetings to ensure that the players are in top form for the final.
Southgate's words were filled with gratitude when talking about his relationship with the fans. He stated, "We all want to be loved, don't we? When you do something for your country and you're a proud Englishman, it's a difficult situation when you don't feel that way and read news that criticizes you." He emphasized that it was a very special moment to be able to celebrate reaching the final for the second time, and the support of the fans made it all the more meaningful. According to Southgate, England have shared many memorable moments with their fans over the past six years, starting with the World Cup in Russia, and these experiences have not only deepened the emotional connection between the team and the fans, but also provided a strong motivation for the team to strive for victory in the final.
