England Stumble But Southgate Defends Star Strikers: “Kane A Rock, Foden Waiting to Explode”
Gareth Southgate shields Harry Kane and Phil Foden after a jittery England win over Serbia in their Euro 2024 opener. While wonderkid Jude Bellingham stole the show with a solo wonder goal, the Three Lions’ big names sparked debate.
Kane, a ghost in the first half, barely touched the ball but became a second-half force. He drew a string of fouls (a team-high six!), battled for possession, and was unlucky not to score a clear-cut chance saved brilliantly by the Serbian keeper.
“Second half, Kane was a rock,” declared Southgate. “He held the ball up brilliantly, creating space for others. In a packed penalty area, there’s not room for everyone to dominate every moment.”
Foden, deployed on the left, was quieter than usual. But Southgate hinted at a bigger plan: “Foden’s like a coiled spring, ready to explode. Bukayo Saka and Trent Alexander-Arnold were prominent in the first half, keeping the flow going. Phil will have his moments to shine.”
England’s second-half wobble concerned Southgate, but he credited his team’s spirit. “We lacked energy after the break,” he admitted. “Several players haven’t played a full game in a while, and the first half took a lot out of them. We showed great resilience to hold on for the win.”
Southgate’s tactical gamble with rotations and substitutions paid off. Bringing on Conor Gallagher for energy and Kieran Trippier for experience steadied the ship. Can England maintain this form with a potentially tougher test next?
