After England’s tough victory over Slovakia, securing their place in the Euro 2024 knockout stages, Manchester United legend Roy Keane, usually known for his scathing criticism, defended Gareth Southgate’s side, stressing that “winning deserves praise.”
Jude Bellingham’s spectacular overhead kick in the 95th minute rescued the Three Lions from the brink, while captain Harry Kane’s header early in extra time secured their passage to the next round. While fellow ITV pundits Ian Wright and Gary Neville saw nothing but the result, Keane spotted a positive side.
Wright, disappointed, stated: “You don’t feel good about England’s performance, so it doesn’t give you confidence for the next game. Whether they need to do something different with their substitutions, whether they need to do something different tactically, those questions remain.” Neville called for immediate change: “The nation is screaming for more change after every game, and that same call will come again, for Palmer, for Arnold, for others to come in and create more balance, more excitement. Winning is everything, but as it stands, England are not going to win the tournament.”
Keane, however, believed the team needed encouragement, especially after a hard-fought victory. He said: “Sometimes after a game, you analyze, you talk about performances, but at this level, winning is the biggest thing. Everyone wants to win beautifully, but if you’re winning and getting through? England weren’t good, we were critical at half-time, but they found a way to win. Big players stepped up at big moments, Bellingham did the big time, so England got over the line.”
Keane believed that ugly wins were a hallmark of winners: “You’ve got to give the team credit where it’s due, because they found a way to win. Some of the greatest satisfaction I had in my career was playing badly and winning.”
This article is from a user submission and does not represent the views of Soccer News Pick. If you repost it, please indicate the source: https://www.soccernewspick.com/uefa-european-championship/5966.html
