Euro 2024: Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou fires warning to England in call for ‘freedom’
Euro 2024: England have not yet booked their spot in the knockout phase ahead of their final Group C clash vs Slovenia
Working as a Euro 2024 pundit with ITV, Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has had some words of advice for Gareth Southgate and his England team as the Three Lions prepare for their final Euro 2024 group game on Tuesday.
Thursday’s uninspiring 1-1 draw with Denmark means that while England remain top of Group C, they may need to avoid defeat against Slovenia on Tuesday to guarantee a spot in the knockout phase.
The post-match discourse following the draw with the Danes has focused on what England must do to avoid another flat display, with questions asked over the roles that the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden are being asked to perform.
The Group C permutations mean that England’s four points may already be enough, as would have been the case in their two previous tournaments, but Postecoglou believes Southgate’s side cannot afford to rely on precedent.
think experience does count in this scenario,” the Spurs boss said on ITV.
“Jordan [Pickford] referenced the last two tournaments quite a lot and I’m sure that’s the talk inside the camp, ‘we’ve had four points before’.
I think the key is that you’ve still got to stay in the present. Just because you had four points in the past and things worked out okay, you still didn’t win, it doesn’t mean it’s going to happen this time. I think they realise that there needs to be some impetus to their tournament now. The next game gives them that opportunity to do that.”
Pushed on what this ‘impetus’ needs to be, Postecoglou served up some further advice for Southgate and his players.
They need] some momentum in terms of form, in terms of players maybe playing with a little more freedom and a little more confidence,” he added. “I think if you don’t get that at some point in the tournament then it will get away from you.
“If you put in a poor performance in a knockout game, there’s no second chance. There’s no chance to readdress that. I think the players will be looking forward to it, I think Gareth will be looking forward to it as well.”
England take on Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday at the same time as Denmark play Serbia. A draw for England guarantees progression to the next round, while a win will see them top the group.
For more than a decade Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor, with stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others. He is the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team.
Although the 20-year-old’s numbers in the final third do not leap out of the page, his ability to trouble opposition defences with his exciting dribbling and inventive play has seemingly caught the eye of many clubs.
HITC say that Tottenham are among the clubs who have been quite impressed with the France Under-21 international, with the North London club thought to have admired the youngster for ‘some time’.
The report adds that Chelsea and West Ham United had also been keeping a close eye on Cherki’s progress at Groupama Stadium.
Tottenham Hotspur right-back Pedro Porro has expressed his feeling of helplessness, after missing out on the Spain squad for Euro 2024, despite a good season under Ange Postecoglou. Right-back is not a spot Spain are blessed with large resources either.
Porro was in Luis de la Fuente’s very first Spain squad, having known him from the youth ranks, but after struggling against Scotland, has played just once in a friendly against Colombia. Dani Carvajal was the clear pick for the starting spot, but de la Fuente opted for experience in Jesus Navas at 38 years old, rather than the more youthful and quicker Porro.
“It makes you feel a bit powerless, because you work a whole year to be there, but hey, everyone has their opinion, it’s respectable and that’s how football is. It’s normal, any player would like to play in an international competition and with your country… but that’s it. Keep working on it. That’s what they taught me and that’s how I’m doing it,” he told Cadena SER.
However he was not bitter about losing his spot, or begrudging his international teammates any of their success.
“I’m very happy for them. I have a good relationship with everyone. It’s a very good group, very positive. Especially Fabian because we have the same physio and we share things… I’m also very happy for him. I haven’t spoken much with him. Him or with the rest of them, I’m on holiday and they are competing. So I don’t want to bother him, let him be focused on what he has to be focused on. And we’ll talk later.”
With Carvajal into his thirties and Navas playing his last tournament, the Spurs right-back will no doubt see a chance to make the position his own in the coming years. This Euros perhaps caught Porro a year too soon.
Aston Villa reach ‘total agreement’ to finalise Premier League transfer
Aston Villa are closing in on the signing of a Premier League left-back following an agreement with Chelsea.
Unai Emery is set to get his wish as Villa have now concluded negotiations over personal terms with Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen, who is set to join on a six-year deal.
The Villans had an offer of £37.5 million accepted for the Netherlands international earlier this week and talks have been underway with the player and his representatives since. A breakthrough has been reached, meaning left-back Maatsen can now undergo a medical and put pen to paper on his contract.
This is according to transfer news journalist Fabrizio Romano, who has now dished out his famous ‘here we go’ slogan for the deal. It’s a big-money addition for Villa and one that fans perhaps wouldn’t have expected as the club continues to struggle with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), but it’s being completed nonetheless.
Currently out in Germany representing the Netherlands at the UEFA European Championships, Maatsen will be happy to have gained sureties over his future. The 22-year-old, who spent the second half of the season just gone on loan at Borussia Dortmund, was involved in the recent UEFA Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid at Wembley.
Everton have completed the signing of midfield starlet Tim Iroegbunam from fellow Premier League club Aston Villa.
The 20-year-old joins the Toffees for an undisclosed fee, believed to be £9m, and has put pen to paper on a three-year deal until the end of June 2027.
Iroegbunam becomes Sean Dyche’s first signing of the summer transfer window and will link up with his new teammates when they report back to Finch Farm for the start of pre-season next month.
Everton have moved quickly to secure the services of Iroegbunam who spent three years at Aston Villa, including a loan spell at Championship side Queens Park Rangers in the 2022-23 season.
Iroegbunam, an England Under-20 international, was integrated into Unai Emery’s first-team squad last season and made 15 appearances in all competitions, including one start and eight substitute outings in the Premier League.
Speaking to evertontv after sealing his move to Goodison Park, Iroegbunam said: “I’m very pleased. Everton is an amazing club, a big club and I’m just really happy to join and I can’t wait to get started. It was a move that I didn’t want to pass by. I wanted to take the opportunity.
“When I spoke to Kevin [Thelwell], he told me more about the club – its history, the future and where they see me playing. It made me feel very excited because there are big things coming, especially with the new stadium.
“When I’ve been to Goodison as an opposition player, I’ve seen how the Everton fans are. You can tell straight away what the atmosphere is like – they are always backing the team. I’m going to work hard for them.
“I just can’t wait to get started. I’m going to give everything and I can’t wait to show what I can bring to this club.”
Dyche added: “We’re pleased to add Tim to our midfield options. He is a young player who is still learning and developing but clearly has a lot of the qualities we want in that area of the pitch.
“My coaching staff and I are looking forward to starting to work with him in pre-season.”
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