Like most things in the age of social and mass media, the reputations of footballers and their abilities are front and centre for those of us who deal with the ups and downs of the beautiful game. Moreover, this same phenomenon that entraps our fascination can often be the cause of our ire and determine our mood for the rest of the day and in some cases, the week. I digress, what we need to speak about more is the overestimation of players ability due to social media and how its algorithm actively and vigorously works to entrench us into separate warring tribes. This same algorithm then typically lands us in an echo chamber that only work to reinforce our predetermined beliefs or ideas.
Hence why the case of Southgate’s England’s Euro 2024 team is the perfect team to wrestle with the idea of the social media player. There is no doubt, whatsoever, that this England team overall is the best team to put on the 3 Lions in the last 15 – 20 years. Furthermore, there is also nothing to suggest they could not have won July’s final on grit and talent alone. Although, like the old cliché, it must be asked – is this England side and squad as good as people believe? And if so, was the full 26-man selection of players too good?
Alex Ferguson is believed to have once said, “give me Zidane and 10 pieces of stick and I will win you a Champions League”. Naturally, one must assume that Ferguson was talking in tongue and cheek was solely aiming to praise Zizou’. However, after watching this England team at the Euros, Fergie was not too far wrong in his analysis of football.
England started the Euros trying to fit in Bellingham, Foden, and Saka across the attacking three with Trent and Rice behind them, with Kane leading the line. Although much has been said of Southgate’s tactics, the fact there was at times four players, Saka, Kane, Jude, and Foden all either cutting in and sitting back to get a shot away or get more involved in the game does indeed show…
Source link : https://www.footballparadise.com/the-curious-case-of-gareth-southgates-england/
Author : Brandon McGrane
Publish date : 2024-09-03 13:30:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.