Euro 2024: Gareth Southgate acknowledges that England needs to enhance their performance and cautions against being lured by the draw, while also talking about Cole Palmer.

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Gareth Southgate has acknowledged that England must improve if they want to progress to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. The manager witnessed his team secure a lackluster 0-0 draw against Slovenia in Cologne, which saw them finish at the top of Group C with five points from three matches.

However, England’s performances have faced criticism, especially as their star attacking players have failed to make an impact in Germany.

Despite the uninspiring display, Southgate believes that his team showed improvement compared to their previous draw against Denmark. He praised their ball possession and the creation of scoring opportunities, although they struggled to find the back of the net. Southgate also commended the impact of his substitutes, particularly Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Gordon, and Cole Palmer, who were involved in England’s best move of the match.

Southgate expressed satisfaction with the performance of Chelsea forward Palmer, highlighting his ability to find space and his calmness on the ball. He acknowledged the challenge of blooding young players in a difficult environment but praised their positive impact. The manager also emphasized the progress made by the defense, led by Marc Guehi, and the team’s increased attacking threat.

Finishing first in the group provides England with several advantages, including the possibility of avoiding strong teams like Germany, Spain, France, and Portugal in the next round. However, Southgate dismissed the significance of the draw, emphasizing the need for his team to focus on their own performance. He stressed the importance of taking one step at a time and acknowledged that further improvement is necessary to succeed in the knockout stages.

Despite the criticism and the need for improvement, Southgate highlighted the achievement of topping the group, which was their initial objective. He remains optimistic about England’s chances in the tournament and is determined to continue building on the positive aspects of their performances.