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England head coach Gareth Southgate (R) and assistant manager Steve Holland take part in a training session at the team鈥檚 base camp, the Weimarer Land golf resort, near Blankenhain on Tuesday. | AFP photo

England manager Gareth Southgate has led his country to a third semi-final in four major tournaments but ahead of Wednesday鈥檚 last-four showdown against the Netherlands at Euro 2024, critics of the Three Lions鈥� boring football are mounting.

Should England end a 58-year wait to win a major trophy in Berlin on Sunday, supporters would not take umbrage with the team鈥檚 style, or lack thereof, but the inability of such an array of attacking stars to excite has stunned viewers across the continent.


Southgate鈥檚 team produced just five shots on target in 240 minutes of action against Switzerland and Slovakia in the prior two rounds, needing penalties and extra-time respectively to progress.

Former England striker Alan Shearer called the team 鈥榬otten鈥� after staggering past Slovakia, while French Euro 2000 winner Emmanuel Petit echoed many fans and national media by labelling England 鈥榖oring鈥�.

Told his team was 鈥榥ot easy on the eye鈥� by a German reporter, Southgate produced an assortment of reasons.

鈥業鈥檓 sorry for that, but our intention is always to play well with the ball -- in football you have an opponent that鈥檚 trying to stop you,鈥� he said after the win over Switzerland.

鈥楾hese are not normal football matches, these are national events with huge pressure, with really young men in the middle of it.

鈥極ur team has been under enormous pressure from the start. They are doing so well.鈥�

Southgate pointed to England鈥檚 opponents using defensive formations and also blamed the grass in Germany for hampering his players.

鈥榃e鈥檙e not able to score a load of goals at the moment, but we鈥檝e played three teams that play a back five, well-organised defences,鈥� he continued.

鈥楶itches are a little bit bobbly so sometimes you need the extra touch and then the space is gone. None of this is easy, but we鈥檙e in a third semi-final in four tournaments.鈥�

After reaching the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and being beaten in the Euro 2020 final on penalties by Italy, England began this tournament as one of the two favourites along with France.

Les Bleus have also played in a rather tedious, yet adequate, fashion to reach the other semi-final, facing Spain.

Southgate noted even La Roja, who by contrast have dazzled this summer in Germany, modified their style to be more direct as they beat the hosts in the quarter-finals.

鈥業t鈥檚 not just about playing well -- Spain mixed their game up, they took seven yellow cards, they found ways to win,鈥� said the coach.

They now face a Dutch team whose five games have produced nearly double the number of goals as in England鈥檚, despite playing 60 minutes less.

In Liverpool鈥檚 Cody Gakpo and Burnley target man Wout Weghorst, Ronald Koeman鈥檚 side have a variety of different tools to create havoc at the other end, leading to hope of a more entertaining, higher-calibre clash.

One bone of contention England fans have had with Southgate is his reluctance to make changes.

Cole Palmer, arguably the player of the season in England, has not started a game in Germany, while Ollie Watkins would offer the ability to run in behind that Kane can no longer muster. Anthony Gordon, who would add dynamism on the left, has gone virtually ignored.

Despite some decisive moments Jude Bellingham has looked jaded after his exploits with Real Madrid and Phil Foden is operating at a far lower level than with Manchester City.

Southgate only rang the changes against Switzerland after falling behind, before Bukayo Saka鈥檚 fine strike from distance pulled England level.

There are concerns that like in the World Cup 2018 semi-final against Croatia, if Southgate is too reactive rather than proactive, England could lose control of the game against better opposition.

If they can defeat the Netherlands with a convincing display instead of another isolated moment of brilliance, it will give the team hope ahead of a potential final.

Fans tossed beer cups at Southgate during a dull goalless draw with Slovenia but all will be forgiven if England triumph in Berlin on July 14.

鈥業 don鈥檛 think it is normal to have beer thrown at you,鈥� said Southgate.

鈥楤ut we will keep grinding, keep fighting and keep enjoying this journey.鈥�

Even if, for now, not many others have.