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England in the single review: Sterling ends the English trauma, Grealish becomes the man for fantasy

2021-06-30T18:06:26.234Z


England waited 55 years for a competitive win against Germany. Then came Raheem Sterling and scored his third European Championship goal. Coach Southgate chooses an unpopular plan and celebrates a personal victory.


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1 / 14th

Jordan Pickford, goalkeeper:

The 27-year-old is actually an average

goalkeeper

.

But in this tournament he didn't concede a single goal in the fourth game.

Against Germany that was largely due to himself: Against Werner, Pickford parried strongly from close range (32nd).

But what was really outstanding was his save against Havertz from 16 meters when he steered a volley over the crossbar (48th).

This is how the English heroic story could only be written.

Photo:

Matthew Childs / AP

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2/14

Kyle Walker, Defense:

The Manchester City full-back is one of the fastest players in the tournament, but this time had to rein in a back three.

His speed did the English good against the nimble Werner and Havertz.

His wit was missing up front.

But that was done later by others.

Photo:

FRANK AUGSTEIN / AFP

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3 / 14th

Harry Maguire, Defense:

Football is also about symbolism.

A turning point in the first half initiated two Maguire scenes: once he stopped the countering miller on the ground, once he let him ricochet in the air.

This ended the German urge phase - and England took over.

Maguire missed two good header chances (17/27).

Defensively the best Englishman.

In the end, I was lucky that Müller did not use the poor organization of the English defense to equalize (81st).

But will be celebrated for his achievement.

Photo:

Carl Recine - Pool / Getty Images

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4/14

John Stones, Defense:

Was once the most expensive defender in the world when he moved to Manchester City in 2016 for a € 55 million transfer fee.

Against Germany, however, was clearly in the shadow of Maquire (with 87.5 million euros / Machester United, by the way, currently the most expensive defender in the world).

Once let Werner run away and was lucky that Pickford parried.

In the end, however, part of a defensive against a goal-less defensive at this European Championship.

Photo:

JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

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5/14

Kieran Trippier, right winger (up to 74th):

England's best standard shooter.

And coach Gareth Southgate's match plan was also based on standards.

Trippier created danger with his free kicks and corners just like shortly before the break when he narrowly missed Kane.

Was once a strong attacking full-back, but has now matured defensively.

But too often its flanks came too imprecisely.

Photo:

CARL RECINE / Pool via REUTERS

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6/14

Kalvin Phillips, midfield:

Apparently had the special assignment to spoil Toni Kroos' evening.

Fouled the German clock once far in the German half and then received yellow for a kick on Kroos' instep at the center circle.

Is a worse footballer than Jude Bellingham, but he got the job done.

Photo:

ULMER / imago images / ULMER press photo agency

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7/14

Declan Rice, midfield (up to 88th):

The West Ham professional should actually protect against the English defensive and organize the attacks forward.

But it was initially a weak point.

Once in the initial phase he lost the ball without any need, then Goretzka out of sight and had to foul it just before the penalty area.

Yellow.

Improved in the second half without shining.

But neither had anyone expected that from him.

Photo:

Carl Recine - Pool / Getty Images

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8/14

Jordan Henderson (from 88th):

Had played, he would not have been injured for so long.

The Liverpool captain only had to help bring the 2-0 home.

Photo:

Catherine Ivill / Getty Images

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9/14

Luke Shaw, left winger:

Also a good standard shooter.

But he was decisive as a winger: His flat pass to Sterling brought the English lead (75th) in a phase in which the German team seemed superior.

His conquest of the ball against Gnabry also led to the 2-0 (86th).

Goes down in history: as the one who played a decisive role in both goals for the first competitive win against Germany since 1966.

Photo:

Catherine Ivill / Getty Images

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10/14

Bukayo Saka, attack (up to 69th):

The world will hear a lot more from this 19-year-old.

Fast, strong dribbling, intelligent.

The German defense initially felt that too.

The Arsenal attacker kept falling cleverly between the lines.

But in the second half, Rüdiger got a better grip on him.

Saka looked hapless and then had to make way for Grealish.

However: it was only his seventh international match.

His time will come.

Photo:

FRANK AUGSTEIN / AFP

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11/14

Jack Grealish, attack (from the 69th):

His substitution made the English fans roar with joy.

The Aston Villa attacker awakens the longing for more offensive imagination.

And he should fulfill them completely.

A clever pass to Shaw initiated the 1-0 (75th).

His cross on Kane before the 2-0 (86th) stifled all remaining German hopes.

Grealish will soon stop playing at Villa.

He is now an English folk hero.

Photo:

JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP

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12/14

Harry Kane, attack:

Kane was directly involved in 50 goals in 49 competitive games last season, but at this EM it looked for a long time as if the Tottenham attacker were the symbol of the English dilemma: Because Southgate preferred safety over spectacle Kane little balls and didn't hit.

Against Germany he only had two ball contacts after 30 minutes - and still had the best chance in the first half, but Hummels slipped the ball off his foot (45th + 1st).

But Kane's hour was yet to come.

Flank Grealish.

Header Kane.

End of the doldrums.

End of all discussions about him.

Wore the rainbow captain's armband for the first time like Manuel Neuer with the Germans.

That makes it a double winner of the evening.

Photo:

Andy Rain / dpa

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13/14

Raheem Sterling, Attack:

Had scored all English goals in the tournament so far: two.

Southgate's plan with him was to lure the more clumsy Ginter and Hummels out of the defense.

Had a good chance to shoot after 16 minutes, also initiated Kane's opportunity with a dribble (against Ginter).

Then finally became the player of this duel from an English point of view, when he also scored the third tournament goal and the 1-0 (75th).

With that he ends the English trauma against Germany.

Has actually had a difficult time at Manchester City because Pep Guardiola hardly used him in the starting XI.

But this EM is his tournament.

Photo:

John Sibley - Pool / Getty Images

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14/14

Gareth Southgate, coach:

Chooses the Didier-Deschamp path from the 2018 World Cup at the EM: Like the French world champion

coach

in Russia, Southgate relies on defensive stability, counterattacks and standards despite outstanding offensive potential in the squad.

His very defensive line-up against Germany initially without Foden, Grealish and Sancho, but with two hard-working but little inspired sixs Rice and Phillips was viewed critically before kick-off.

But his plan worked perfectly.

It is also a late private revenge: Southgate missed the decisive penalty against Germany in the European Championship semi-finals in 1996.

For him, this evening is also a personal victory.

Photo:

Catherine Ivill / Getty Images

Source: spiegel

All sports articles on 2021-06-30

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