England seek spark against Slovakia as Georgia hope to avoid pain from Spain
Football
By
AFP
| Jun 30, 2024
England manager Gareth Southgate has pinpointed expectation for the festering unease among his side's travelling support but demand on the Three Lions to deliver at Euro 2024 has only risen after landing in the soft side of the draw.
Southgate's men begin what they hope will be a road to Berlin for the final on July 14 against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen today.
A rematch of the Euro 2020 final with Italy or Switzerland would then await in the quarters, while Austria, Turkey, the Netherlands or Romania are potential semi-final opponents.
There has been little in England's performances in Germany so far to justify their hype as pre-tournament favourites.
But with Germany, France, Spain and Portugal all on the other side of the draw, the pressure has intensified on a richly-talented squad to finally start performing as a team.
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"If people are being negative, it's only because they expect a lot from you, which is a positive thing," said Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, who could be one of the changes Southgate turns to.
"If we want that to stop, we just need to perform and give people what they want to see."
Despite topping Group C, England have managed only two goals in their opening three games.
Meanwhile, Spain are focussed on defeating debutants Georgia today to reach the Euro 2024 quarter-finals and so is their 16-year-old starlet Lamine Yamal after receiving some good news to clear his head.
Before La Roja tackle their last 16 assignment in Cologne Yamal discovered he had passed his own -- the country's compulsory end of secondary school exams.
Still studying when the tournament began in Germany little over a fortnight ago, he shone in Spain's first two matches and was rested for the majority of the third with the team already through top of Group B.
While thoughts started to drift towards the knock-out rounds, Spain's right winger was still waiting on his results.
"I came out from the training session and was told it all went well," Yamal told Spanish radio station Onda Cero late Thursday.
"I passed the exams and I have the ESO title now...
"I saw the grades on my phone and it said I had passed so I just closed the app, called my mum and told her."
Spain aced their "group of death" examination, overcoming Croatia, Italy and Albania to finish the opening phase with a 100 percent record and three clean sheets.
No other team managed either feat and after Spain came into the tournament without the favourites tag worn by France and England, now many are starting to believe in La Roja.
"Everything we've done in the group phase serves for nothing if on Sunday they knock us out," warned Yamal.
"We have played against them before, but we know that it won't be the same game."
Spain thrashed Georgia 7-1 in Euros qualifying in September 2023.