Over the past few days, the England players have felt a “shift” in training, with a newfound lightness even in the heavier drills. The squad benefited from some quality time with their families on Tuesday, but the main reason for the uplift is Jude Bellingham’s sensational goal against Slovakia.
The team has been referring to this moment as a “turning point,” with Gareth Southgate highlighting its importance in the euphoria after the game. He even compared it to Paul Gascoigne’s iconic goal against Scotland at Euro ‘96. John Stones echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the emotional impact of scoring in such a high-pressure moment and how it could change the team’s dynamics moving forward.
While it was undeniably a huge goal, can a single moment really transform an entire tournament? History provides several precedents: Paul Gascoigne in 1996, David Platt in 1990, Marco Tardelli for Italy in 1982, Claudio Caniggia for Argentina in 1990, and Zinedine Zidane against Spain in 2006. In these instances, a single goal surged conviction through the squads, often altering the course of the tournament.
However, each situation involved more than just one moment. For instance, Argentina in 1990 and England in 1996 had been flat and needed a spark, while Italy in 1982 and France in 2006 suffered from low confidence affecting team coherence. England in 1990 had the quality but needed the right formation. Portugal in 2016 simply struggled to get going.
The 2024 England team has faced all these problems and more. They’ve been flat and fatigued, with imbalances throughout the squad. The press has been too cautious, and Gareth Southgate’s conservative approach has prevented the team from committing the necessary players forward. This has made England statistically the slowest team at Euro 2024.
Despite the positive mood in the camp, the team’s performance has often been hindered by the weight of expectations and past failures. Even during the Slovakia game, there were moments of bickering on the pitch. The efficiency seen in previous Southgate-led campaigns seemed to have evaporated.
Can one uplifting strike change all that? Late goals can be an emotional elixir but also highlight fundamental problems within the team. England’s performance against Slovakia continued their prior struggles, revealing potential vulnerabilities against Switzerland.
Southgate’s reaction to the victory may be crucial. He has started to make more significant changes, including working on a three-man backline during Wednesday’s training. This formation could provide more options and address some of the team’s issues. Marc Guehi’s suspension has forced Southgate’s hand, but it also aligns with existing thinking that something substantial needed to change.
A three-man backline could solve several problems: bypassing a weak midfield, utilizing left wing-backs to cover for a lack of left-footers, and accommodating both Phil Foden and Bellingham in their preferred roles. This approach offers more potential configurations and protection, similar to England’s 1990 formation shift.
Changing the formation mid-tournament is a big risk, especially with many new players. However, this might be Southgate’s final challenge to prove his tactical acumen. Many other teams view England as having the best squad but question Southgate’s grasp of fine tactical details. A successful formation change could silence these critics.
Even a partially successful change could be enough. England need to be more competent and compact, allowing Bellingham’s goal to truly inspire the team. This can strengthen their resolve and belief that they can find ways to win any game. In a short tournament, star-laden teams can flail from game to game and still find themselves in the final.
Bellingham’s assertive mentality, inspired by Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance documentary, could further benefit the team. He has used similar language about weaponizing criticism, and England have moved past negativity to do the bare minimum required. This is another potential change.
It’s asking a lot, but there’s now not much left. Single moments can indeed surge into something huge. England’s journey may be defined by Bellingham’s goal, proving that one overhead kick can indeed change a tournament.
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