Former Newcastle star highlights key difference in England penalty shootout win

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Alan Shearer believes the timing of Gareth Southgate’s substitutions made all the difference in England’s penalty shootout win over Switzerland on Saturday.

Despite a new system and improved performance, the Three Lions still didn’t find their true attacking rhythm and were forced all the way to spot-kicks after Bukayo Saka sealed a 1-1 comeback draw in normal time.

But England went on to record a perfect shootout, with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all firing home, while Jordan Pickford’s save to deny Manuel Akanji helped seal a 5-3 win.

Shearer lauds Southgate’s penalty approach

Although this was England’s third win in four shootouts under Southgate, it was their first attempt since losing the Euro 2020 final from the spot against Italy.

Demons have been banished and according to Shearer, the difference was Southgate bringing the likes of Palmer, Alexander-Arnold and Toney off the bench earlier, giving them a chance to get into the game before taking a penalty.

By contrast, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford both missed in the Euro 2020 final shootout having had just four touches of the ball combined after coming on as late substitutes.

“Relief is the first thing I feel whenever England win any penalty shootout but for our players against Switzerland on Saturday, it did not seem to be a problem,” former Newcastle and England striker Shearer — an expert from the spot himself during his playing days — wrote in his column for BBC Sport.

“Pressure? What pressure. They all put away perfect penalties, and it was wonderful to watch.

“Gareth deserves a lot of credit for that, because you have to bear in mind what happened in the final of the last European Championship, when we lost a shootout against Italy three years ago.

“That night, he did not make changes to bring his takers on quickly enough. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho only came on in the final seconds of extra-time, and both of them missed…

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Source link : https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/07/07/england-euro-2024-penalty-shootout-win-gareth-southgate-praised-shearer/

Author : CJ

Publish date : 2024-07-07 11:38:04

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