Being such a big and powerful football nation and claiming to be the best despite having only won one international competition (World Cup 1966) is often taking its toll. Everybody else comments on the England team, its players and coach, even people who are not from England. ‘It’s coming home’ is the phrase that the FA used in the last EURO but now is used as a mocking song for any team (international or otherwise) from England. Even other managers are using the Albion as cover for their own failures.An unforgettable moment when @HKane scored this. ❤️🔥Last time out against Denmark… at #EURO2020! pic.twitter.com/B045YO3jwW— England (@England) June 20, 2024 Ahead of the second group game against Denmark, the ‘analysis’ of the England team continued. After criticism of Phil Foden’s performance against Serbia, this time, former Republic of Ireland star James McClean gave his opinion on Arsenal star and one of the key England players.“I think Declan Rice is overrated. Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a very good footballer, but the way the English media wax lyrical about him is completely over the top. For me, he’s not world class. To me world class is someone who gets in every side in the world. I don’t think he does that. I don’t think he gets in the Man City side ahead of Rodri. To me Toni Kroos is world class, He dictates the game, Rodri dictates the game, I don’t think Declan Rice does that. Someone who gets it on the half turn, plays passes forward. He’s very good at what he does” he said on RTE Sport.’We ate McDonald’s like scavengers’Gareth Southgate’s answer to all of this? It’s the game against Denmark that matters most, and not the ‘outside noise’. With a win today, Egland will qualify for the round of 16, and that the main goal at this stage.“There’s going to be a narrative over a player, a couple of players, after every England game. This is a different world to the one you experience at clubs. The players as a collective recognise that now after the last couple of days. We talked with them about it. It’s very rare at their club they’d win a game and experience what they’ve experienced over the last couple of days. I have to make sure I can guide them through that, let them understand it and recognise it’s the reality of our world but that we shouldn’t be thrown off track by it. We’re in a good position, we know we want to play better, there are lot of things we did really well and we move towards tomorrow’s game” said Southgate.EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – GROUP STAGEThursday 16.00: (4.10) Slovenia (3.50) Serbia (2.00)19.00: (5.60) Denmark (3.70) England (1.65)22.00: (2.30) Spain (3.30) Italy (3.20)***odds are subject to change***
