Football News Update: England’s Road to Euro 2024
Southgate Focuses on Penalty Preparation Ahead of Euro 2024
Ahead of the highly anticipated Euro 2024 tournament, England manager Gareth Southgate is determined to avoid the heartbreak experienced in the Euro 2020 final, where the Three Lions lost to Italy on penalties.
After that agonizing defeat, Southgate has been working diligently to address England’s penalty-taking woes. The England squad has been undergoing extra penalty sessions during training, with the goal of ensuring the players are better prepared to handle the high-pressure situation should it arise in future tournaments.
“We learned some tough lessons from the Euro 2020 final, and we are committed to addressing that issue head-on,” Southgate said in a recent press conference. “Penalty shootouts can be a cruel way to decide a match, but we need to be ready for that eventuality. The extra practice sessions are just one of the ways we’re working to improve our penalty-taking abilities.”
Southgate’s focus on penalty preparation is part of a broader strategy to build on England’s success in recent years. The team’s run to the Euro 2020 final, coupled with their semifinal appearance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, has raised expectations for the squad ahead of the upcoming European Championship.
“We have a talented group of players who have gained valuable experience at the highest level,” Southgate continued. “Our goal is to go one step further than Euro 2020 and bring the trophy home to England. But we know it won’t be easy, and we’re leaving no stone unturned in our preparation.”
As the countdown to Euro 2024 continues, football fans across the country will be eagerly watching to see if Southgate and his team can deliver the first major tournament victory for England since the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
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