Former England footballer Michael Owen has given his take on the current England team participating in EURO 2024. Despite being among the pre-tournament favorites, the Harry Kane-led side has failed to showcase the compelling football expected by many.
Owen feels that England players encounter challenges when playing on the international stage. He added that a longstanding issue for England has been that their players do not perform as effectively for the national team as they do at their clubs.
“I think that’s always been the case. It is very difficult. We see them in clubs, they know their surroundings, they know their positions, they know their team-mates and they feel comfortable, all those things. But to bring everybody together, in different roles, and sometimes as in England’s case at the moment, in different positions for 1-2 players as well. I think it has always been difficult,” Owen said in a conversation facilitated by SonyLiv.
“Some nations, we would joke about it, would have players who would be average players in the Premier League. But all of a sudden they would be playing for Lithuania or Slovakia or Malta and they would play like Messi or Ronaldo. Some people just play better when playing international football. England’s problem for a long time has been that their players don’t play as well for the country as they do for the club,” he added.
I was going to disagree with Gareth Southgate’s team: Michael Owen
Michael Owen further discussed his views on what changes he believes Gareth Southgate should make in England’s XI. The 44-year-old also expressed his disagreement with Southgate’s selection decisions against Denmark. He added that the England manager has introduced players to partner with Declan Rice. Unfortunately, as a result of this one of England’s best players will be sidelined, which he finds frustrating.
“We all have opinions and I knew that going into this tournament, I was going to disagree with Southgate’s team because the system he plays I just wouldn’t play. I knew straightaway that we are going to play four defenders (which is fine) but I just think we should play Declan Rice (at No.6) and then we can play two ahead of him, two wide and one striker. That is what every team plays in the Premier League. Arsenal play with a No. 6, Liverpool do that, Chelsea do that, Manchester United, Man City play with just Rodri.
“I don’t understand this and I don’t like it but I knew it will happen because Southgate has always done this. He has brought in players to play alongside Rice but that means we have two more negative players and that means one of our best players is going to be on the bench. I can’t stand seeing Cole Palmer on the bench to put a (Adam) Wharton or a (Kobbie) Mainoo or Trent Alexander on the pitch. That is just being more defensive when our strength is attack. It’s frustrating,” he said further.
