Five reasons to be positive about England

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England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford celebratesImage source, Getty Images

Image caption,

England topped Group C pinch 4 points and person now reached nan quarter-finals by beating Slovakia

Adam Millington

BBC Sport journalist

England whitethorn person travel successful for a batch of disapproval astatine Euro 2024 truthful far, but it’s surely not each been antagonistic for Gareth Southgate’s side.

Jude Bellingham's stunning last-gasp overhead footwear and Harry Kane's extra-time victor helped nan Three Lions to victory against Slovakia and they now find themselves successful nan quarter-finals.

So pinch a necktie against Switzerland coming up connected Saturday - unrecorded connected nan BBC astatine 17:00 BST - we thought we'd return a look astatine immoderate of nan reasons England fans should consciousness positive.

We besides want to publication your reasons to beryllium affirmative truthful usage nan shape astatine nan bottommost of this page and show England fans why they should not suffer religion successful their team.

1. It can't get overmuch worse

There’s nary uncertainty England person started severely - but they've made nan quarter-finals.

Italy - who won Euro 2020 - were knocked retired successful nan past 16. At slightest England didn't suffer nan aforesaid fate.

England won conscionable 1 of their group-stage games and struggled against Slovakia earlier Bellingham's equaliser, yet they stay unbeaten successful Germany.

The Euros had been lacking immoderate existent feel-good facet for nan Three Lions, but nan jubilant celebrations aft Bellingham's heroics could thief them to footwear on.

With much knockout shot connected nan sky against a Switzerland broadside who person eliminated Italy, it's clip for England to measurement up.

2. England person 1 of nan world's champion players

It was Bellingham who saved England from an early exit. At his best, nan 21-year-old tin boost their hopes of going nan region astatine nan Euros.

Bellingham - who besides scored nan victor successful their opening crippled against Serbia - has not rather matched his Real Madrid shape but has nan imaginable to beryllium a quality maker.

So do others. Harry Kane was nan Bundesliga apical scorer for Bayern Munich successful 2023-24, while Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 19, was 1 of England’s brightest sparks against Slovakia, producing nan champion final-third passing accuracy successful nan game.

Media caption,

Bellingham goal: All nan angles

3. England aren't unsocial successful starting slowly

England haven't group nan world alight astatine nan Euros, but neither person galore of nan expected favourites.

Italy are out. France vanished 2nd successful their group and edged past Belgium successful nan past 16, scoring only 3 goals successful nan process - nary of which came from unfastened play.

Portugal needed a punishment shootout to hit Slovenia and scope nan quarter-finals aft failing to people successful normal clip aliases other time.

The Netherlands vanished 3rd successful their group. England, astatine least, won theirs.

Few of nan accepted large hitters person managed to find their shape astatine nan Euros. But immoderate will - arsenic nan Netherlands did against Romania successful nan past 16. Could England?

4. England person a favourable draw

Results elsewhere person handed England a perchance easier way done nan knockouts.

They're connected nan different broadside of nan tie to Spain, Germany, Portugal and France - England cannot meet immoderate of them unless they get to nan final.

If England hit Switzerland, past they could either play Turkey aliases nan Netherlands successful nan semi-finals.

Had results elsewhere gone differently, past their semi-final mightiness person been against France.

5. The chair is making an effect (if used)

Gareth Southgate said Ivan Toney was "disgusted" astatine being introduced pinch a infinitesimal to spell against Slovakia arsenic England trailed 1-0.

But, he ended up mounting up Harry Kane's winning extremity and brought added power against a tiring defence.

The Three Lions’ spot connected nan chair could beryllium a cardinal plus for nan remainder of nan tourney - arsenic agelong arsenic Southgate utilises it.

Toney, Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins and Anthony Gordon are each options who person nan expertise to alteration nan crippled from nan bench.

That wealthiness of talent could beryllium peculiarly important successful knockout shot pinch nan imaginable of games going to extra-time.

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Source Sport BBC
Sport BBC