There are games of football when the statistics show that one team played great, but the result just isn’t there to back it up. Or, there are situations where a team wins but the one looking at the game data is wondering how it is possible since that team was bad. But, unfortunately for England, in their case against Slovenia, the performance on the pitch and match statistics are all in sync – the game was terrible. Unlike the first game with Serbia in Group C, the Three Lions were visibly regressing as the tournament went on and, after a 1-1 draw with Denmark, finished the group competition at the top spot, but with a goalless draw against Slovenia. When we look at the game stats, it’s even worse.Angry England fans throw cups at SouthgateOn paper, this is a terrific squad, with firepower in attack – Harry Kane, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham, but in real life, it’s a ‘dead heat’ between those four who was worse. The England captain had the fewest touches last night (only 32), and after him comes Bellingham (69). Real Madrid’s star ‘recorded’ zero shots, chances created, tackles, crosses completed or goals last against Slovenia and lost possession 15 times! He also failed to have a single shot in the last game against Denmark. Let’s go to the both flanks. High-flying wingers Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka are maybe ‘flying’ in Manchester City and Arsenal, but not with the Three Lions. For the whole game, they managed only one dribble! It was Foden, while Saka made none for the 70 minutes he was on the pitch.EURO 2024: Terrible England cannot even win against SloveniaIn recent days, TV pundits have been the subject of criticism since Gary Lineker called England’s game against Denmark ‘s**t’, so when the Three Lions produced an even worse display against Slovenia, many of them were not too harsh.“We were so basic in the first half. It was a struggle to watch that. I say we looked so basic – but that’s being kind. That’s the rigid England that we’ve seen in every single tournament going back for 20 years. It moved forward a lot in the second half. We didn’t get the result, but there were glimpses of what we can be” Garry Neville told ITV.England topped Group C despite not scoring a single goal in the second half and only winning one match. They’ve recorded a lower xG than any other side that has qualified for the knockout stages at #EURO2024, while Slovenia (26) are the only side that have qualified to have… pic.twitter.com/nSYJTr0mU9— Squawka (@Squawka) June 25, 2024 The only bright point of this game was the introduction of Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer. All TV pundits were excited to see them in the game, and many of them believed that they should start in the Round of 16.“The one I’m always excited to watch is Cole Palmer, he always has that X-factor. I know we were wondering why he didn’t come on in that first or second game, but every time he gets the ball it looks like something is going to happen. There was certainly a bit more flow to their game the last 15 or 20 minutes. Would you want to mark Palmer? You wouldn’t want to play against him. He’s so unpredictable, he can beat a man, go left or right. A lot of brilliant players affect the game, when he came on, you knew he was going to affect the game. Every time he gets the ball you think something is going to happen” Roy Keane told ITV.EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – GROUP STAGETuesday Netherlands – Austria 2-3 (0-1)/Gakpo 47, Depay 75 – Malen 6 (og), Schmid 59, Sabitzer 80/France – Poland 1-1 (0-0)/Mbappe (p) 56 – Lewandowski 79(p)/England – Slovenia 0-0Denmark – Serbia 0-0Wednesday 19.00: (3.30) Slovakia (2.05) Romania (3.85)19.00: (5.60) Ukraine (3.90) Belgium (1.70)22.00: (7.80) Georgia (5.20) Portugal (1.43)22.00: (2.65) Czech R. (3.40) Turkey (2.80***odds are subject to change***
