"Every opponent they played were able to torment them" – Slovakia midfielder makes confident claim ahead of England clash at Euro 2024
Slovakia and Hellas Verona midfielder Ondrej Duda has issued a stern warning to Gareth Southgate's England ahead of their upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 last-16 tie.
The Three Lions finished top of Group C of the ongoing Euro 2024 with five points from three games. They opened their continental campaign with a drab 1-0 victory over Serbia before recording a 1-1 draw against Denmark and a 0-0 draw against Slovenia in Group C.
Slovakia, on the other hand, advanced to the knockout stages after sealing a third-spot finish in Group E with four points. Duda scored in his team's 1-1 draw against group winners Romania earlier on June 26.
Speaking to Slovakian television channel TV Markiza, Duda asserted that England boast a squad filled with world-class players before pointing out their poor displays at the Euro 2024. He said (h/t SPORTbible):
"The English have quality, but every opponent they have played were able to torment them."
Duda's teammate, Stanislav Lobotka, also pitched in and commented:
"It [qualification for the last-16] is something indescribable. We did it and I'm most pleased that we did it by playing our own game. From the beginning we wanted to play our game and we fought for each other. We will try to get as far as possible."
Danny Murphy reveals why certain England players are struggling to shine at Euro 2024
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has claimed that some England players are failing to impress at the Euro 2024 due to manager Gareth Southgate's system. He said (h/t BBC):
"So many of our players, the Arsenal and Manchester City boys and Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid for example, are used to playing high-tempo and high-energy football on the front foot for their clubs, and that way of playing is drilled into them every day of the week."
Murphy, who represented The Three Lions nine times, concluded:
"With England, they are asked to play a different way because Gareth Southgate is a bit more cautious with his set-up. Here, it looks like many of them are trying to play in a way they are not used to and it is creating a lack of cohesion and lack of belief in what they are doing."
According to BBC, The Three Lions's average xG of 2.26 for their Euro 2024 group games rank them at just 19th out of 24 competing teams.
Southgate's team, who lost on penalties in the Euro 2020 final against Italy, are set to face Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday (June 30).