Jamie Carragher has called England “extremely lucky” to have qualified for the semi-finals of Euro 2024. If the Three Lions win the tournament, he said it would be similar to Greece’s Euro 2004 triumph.
Gareth Southgate’s team have come under fire for their performance in Germany, with many questioning the manager’s selection and the struggles his team have to create and finish chances.
Despite their disappointing performance, the Three Lions still managed to reach the semi-finals of the competition, beating Switzerland on penalties in Düsseldorf on Saturday.
Bukayo Saka sent the match into extra time after producing a sensational long-range shot from outside the Swiss penalty area to cancel out Breel Embolo’s tap-in at the far post. Neither side could be separated in extra time, with the match heading to penalties. Jordan Pickford would save Manuel Akanji’s spot-kick, while Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold would all score goals of their own.
While England have held their own at crucial times, former Liverpool and England star Carragher claims that if the Three Lions win Euro 2024 they will not be remembered as one of the tournament’s great champions.
Jamie Carragher believes England have been ‘extremely lucky’ to qualify for the Euro 2024 semi-finals
Carragher claimed that if England were to win the European Championship, their disappointing performance would be similar to the way Greece won in 2004 or how Portugal won in 2016.
Greece won the European Championship by scoring just three goals in the knockout stage
‘Some great teams have made their mark on the history of the European Championship. Whether or not they deliver the ultimate success from now on, this England team will not be remembered as one of them,’ Carragher wrote in a column in The Telegraph.
‘If you think about the winners at elite level, France in 2000 or Spain in 2008 and 2012 are still fresh in my memory.
‘If England go all the way, they will not be in such high-minded company. What we will have seen will be similar to the victories of Greece in 2004 and Portugal in 2016, when a series of disappointing performances led to unlikely success.’
Greece seemed to be on the verge of a slam into the finals of Euro 2004. In all three knockout matches, they scored just three goals. They beat France 1-0, the Czech Republic 1-0 and won 1-0 against Portugal in the final.
Portugal, meanwhile, would finish third in their group, with Hungary and Iceland qualifying for the last 16 as the top two teams in the group. The Selecao, similar to Greece, would ultimately score just four goals in each of their four knockout matches, also beating Poland on penalties in the quarter-finals.
“As was the case with the Portuguese eight years ago, England defies football logic to still be in the conversation. It is very unusual for a strong nation to play so consistently poorly in a major tournament and reach the semi-finals,” Carragher added.
Portugal won the tournament in 2016 in the same way by not playing the most attractive football
Carragher stated that England needed to find second gear if they were to be crowned champions
Trent Alexander-Arnold (pictured) scored the decisive penalty on Saturday evening to help England beat Switzerland
‘We can’t escape reality. We can’t repackage it. England have been incredibly lucky, first against Slovakia and now against Switzerland. They’re through to the last four despite their performances, rather than because of them.’
Yet Southgate is praised by some for his stellar record as England manager, transforming England’s fortunes in recent years.
But Southgate leads the league with the most knockout games won at major tournaments, seven, compared to all other England managers since 1966 combined.
Carragher’s Sky Sports colleague Gary Neville was full of praise for the Three Lions manager during the live broadcast of the Netherlands v Turkey match on ITV Football.
“Southgate’s record is absolutely brilliant and when you consider where we were before we came in. When you consider how he was received when he got the job – I have to say he is the Englishman who knows more about tournament football than anyone else in English football history,” Neville said.
“He knows everything about youth tournaments, playing in tournaments and managing tournaments. He knows the good, the bad and the ugly.
Bukayo Saka (right) scored to send the match into extra time, before scoring again in the penalty shootout
England will now face the Netherlands in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after beating Turkey on Saturday
Gary Neville, meanwhile, was full of praise for Gareth Southgate (pictured) for his work in getting England to the last four of the tournament.
“We challenged him to make changes in every game, he makes one change in every game and he has proven that he is right. He has more experience than all of us.”
Southgate, meanwhile, praised the character and resilience of his team, which saw them win the penalty shootout against Switzerland.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, the England manager said: “If I can’t enjoy that moment then the whole thing is a waste of time. I took this job to help. I can’t deny that it’s as personal as the last few weeks have been…
But we’re still fighting.
“We showed incredible character and resilience. You have to find ways to win and deal with everything around you.
‘To come back from behind twice and have that same composure was impeccable.’