In Cologne the party is third in class. It may seem like a paradox, but it isn’t. England and Slovenia face each other at a slow pace in Cologne, they don’t get hurt, they take a point each and arm in arm they fly to the round of 16 of Euro 2024. England first, Slovenia third. England with their heads down and dark faces, Slovenia with a real celebration, on the pitch and in the stands.
Bad performance from the Three Lions. England are never dangerous, despite the blessing available to Gareth Southgate, on whom criticism will definitely rain down. Because his national team is going to the round of 16, first of all, but with only two goals scored, as in 2020, equaling the negative record that already belonged to it: in the ranking of total goals scored by a team that finished first in the group stage of a In the European Championship, England is twice last.
Palmer enters well, Bellingham on the other hand is obscure. In Slovenia, ‘our’ Bijol, Udinese’s wall, stands out.