England’s soccer team has landed on a plan for Euro glory. It’s called plan B.
DÜSSELDORF , GERMANY : Three weeks into its campaign at this European Championship, England’s national soccer team has come to a jarring realization: Whatever approach it had designed here wasn’t working. The Three Lions have barely scored, have created next to no chances, and have a nasty tendency to keep falling behind. And yet, as heavyweights such as Germany, Italy, and Portugal all went home, England has stuck around.
Now, after coming back from a goal down to knock off Switzerland in a penalty shootout on Saturday, the Three Lions are semifinal-bound for the third time in their past four major tournaments. What the victory revealed was that England’s Plan A might be a dud. But Plans B, C, D and onward have turned this team into one of the most resilient tournament sides in world soccer.
The Three Lions scored with practically the last kick of regulation to tie their round-of-16 game against Slovakia before winning in extra time. And on Saturday, they needed an 80th minute goal from Bukayo Saka to draw level against Switzerland and force an extra 30 minutes. “These are not normal football matches," said manager Gareth Southgate, who must now prepare his team to face the Netherlands in Wednesday’s semifinal.
“These are national events with huge pressure, with really young men in the middle of it. Our team has been under enormous pressure from the start, and they’re doing so well." The results are hard to argue with. Everything else, however, is a matter of unending consternation back home.
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