'Why England can still win Euro 2024'

England survived a immense scare successful nan past 16 of Euro 2024 erstwhile Jude Bellingham's last-gasp overhead footwear for nan ages rescued them from a humiliating exit against Slovakia.

It group up a quarter-final gathering pinch Switzerland, awesome winners complete holders Italy successful their past match, successful Dusseldorf connected Saturday.

England's mediocre performances truthful acold successful Germany person diluted their position arsenic 1 of nan pre-tournament favourites, but they still person a aureate opportunity if a talented squad tin show their existent potential.

So why should location beryllium immoderate dream that England tin still flourish arsenic Euro 2024 enters its last phase?

Somehow England person survived head Gareth Southgate's tactical muddle to still person nan chance to put matters correct successful nan tournament.

Southgate, who will return complaint of his 100th crippled arsenic head against nan Swiss, has overseen a messiness successful midfield, which saw nan grounded "experiment" of utilizing Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold alongside Declan Rice ditched conscionable aft half-time successful nan 2nd Group C crippled against Denmark. Conor Gallagher past lasted only 45 minutes erstwhile he replaced Alexander-Arnold successful nan adjacent crippled against Slovenia.

Phil Foden has been a threat, but often forced to drift astir nan margins connected nan left-hand side, meaning moments of individual brilliance from Bellingham chiefly person sent England into nan past eight.

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo performed creditably against Slovakia but erstwhile again nan squad looked unbalanced, uninspired and highly fortunate to triumph aft different dismal display.

This appears to person convinced Southgate of nan request for urgent alteration – a luxury he is fortunate to still person fixed England's showings successful Germany.

And that intends a move to backmost three, somewhat enforced by defender Marc Guehi's suspension. It is besides a chance to springiness England much balance, potency and nan opportunity to get nan champion retired of what is, astatine first glance, an array of attacking riches.

Southgate could besides shape a aureate triangle betwixt Foden, Bellingham and Harry Kane giving England much style and structure.

He was successful defiant temper connected Friday arsenic he said: "As a 53-year-old, I'm not worried astir losing aliases astir things going wrong. The downsides for maine are irrelevant.

"It astir going for it. That's nan mindset and it has been my mindset passim nan tournament."

This is simply a chance England and Southgate are fortunate to person - but they must raise their crippled respective levels to return it.

In Bellingham, England person a subordinate pinch nan "X-factor" – arsenic proved by that changeable of brilliant pinch 86 seconds near against Slovakia arsenic their Euro 2024 run stood connected nan brink of a humiliating collapse.

His injury-time overhead footwear was a goal, and a moment, that earned instant iconic status. More significantly, though, it kept England successful a tourney erstwhile an inglorious exit looked definite and, connected nan mediocrity they person delivered, deserved.

It gave Southgate a chance to reset. Again.

The "who else?" ceremony re-affirmed Bellingham's actual assurance and self-belief - bolstered moreover further by nan 21-year-old winning La Liga and nan Champions League successful his first play astatine Real Madrid - that he is nan subordinate who tin make nan quality to England.

Bellingham has already done that, contempt indifferent individual performances against Denmark and Slovenia, pinch defining contributions specified arsenic nan victor against Serbia successful England's opening crippled and that infinitesimal of magic against Slovakia.

If location is 1 subordinate who tin supply optimism that nan intolerable tin beryllium imaginable successful Berlin connected 14 July, past it is Bellingham.

England person been a ray imitation of nan squad that carried truthful overmuch dream and anticipation pinch them connected nan travel to their Euro 2024 guidelines astatine nan Weimarer Land Spa and Golf edifice successful Blankenhain.

A richly talented group of players person looked jaded, disorganised and, mysteriously for a broadside containing nan attacking threat it does, short connected productivity and menace.

Southgate has realised truthful overmuch has been missing that it must beryllium addressed pinch a alteration of strategy to revive their fortunes.

Kane has scored 2 goals but has not been his accustomed threat. Foden has arguably been England's astir vulnerable player, but nan emotion remains he could do a batch much if Southgate tin devise a tactical style to let him to activity much centrally.

Even Bellingham's brilliance has travel successful those 2 flashes alternatively than pinch consistency, truthful Southgate's dream going into nan past 8 is that location is still much to travel from his cardinal men.

It would beryllium a root of immense regret to him and England if they went location pinch a consciousness of what mightiness person been, particularly arsenic they person landed successful a favourable half of nan draw.

If they had been offered nan opportunity of beating Switzerland, past either Turkey aliases nan Netherlands, to scope nan last earlier flying retired they would surely person signed up.

It is successful their hands and Southgate has seen signs of improvement, saying: "There has been a batch of anticipation connected nan squad successful nan early portion of nan tournament.

"I consciousness nan team, successful training, looks successful a different spot mentally. They look much fluid and I'm expecting america to play well."

If England are to fulfil those hopes, they cannot spend different mediocre show against Switzerland.

When England began their 1990 World Cup run successful Italy pinch a tedious 1-1 tie against nan Republic of Ireland, Rome newspaper La Repubblica carried nan header "Is This All There Is To England?"

Those words could person been repeated aft Southgate's broadside drew pinch Denmark and Slovenia, arsenic good arsenic nan scrape to triumph against Slovakia.

England person received scrutiny and disapproval successful Germany and cannot flight nan truth it has been merited.

In Italy, head Bobby Robson proved location was much to that peculiar vintage by altering his strategy to a backmost 5 for nan adjacent group crippled against a Netherlands broadside boasting Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, Ronald Koeman and Frank Rijkaard.

Terry Butcher, Des Walker and Mark Wright – who scored nan victor successful nan last group crippled against Egypt – took connected nan centre-back roles arsenic a Paul Gascoigne-inspired England reached nan semi-final, yet losing connected penalties to West Germany.

Southgate besides looks to person decided connected this extremist displacement to cure England's deficiency of equilibrium pinch Kyle Walker, John Stones and Ezri Konsa group to beryllium employed arsenic nan backmost 3 against Switzerland to thief spark his broadside into life.

It is simply a bold move to make midway done a tournament, arsenic good arsenic grounds of a antecedently flawed plan. Yet history shows it tin work. If it brings nan champion retired of players specified arsenic Bellingham and Foden and gives much ammunition to main marksman Kane past it is simply a consequence worthy taking.

England person nan players to make specified a strategy activity if they tin unlock nan imaginable that has been hidden distant successful Germany. Can they now do it?

Switzerland are now regarded acheronian horses to triumph Euro 2024, posing a superior threat to England, particularly if Southgate's broadside execute arsenic poorly arsenic they have.

The 2-0 triumph complete Italy was framed successful immoderate quarters arsenic being down to nan holders' under-performing. This does a sedate disservice to a confident, competent Swiss broadside nether nan shrewd activity of coach Murat Yakin.

It besides came connected nan backmost of good show against Germany, erstwhile nan hosts needed Niclas Fullkrug's injury-time header to gain a point.

Switzerland person players known to England's squad too, specified arsenic outstanding Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji, erstwhile Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka - nan driving unit down Bayer Leverkusen's trophy treble successful their unbeaten Bundesliga play - and Newcastle United defender Fabian Schar.

Former Stoke City and Liverpool maverick Xherdan Shaqiri tin still make an impact, arsenic Scotland recovered out, while Remo Freuler has been outstanding successful midfield, arsenic has Ruben Vargas connected nan left.

This well-rounded squad has scored 7 goals from 7 different scorers and nan temper was genuinely assured erstwhile Yakin addressed nan media connected Friday night.

He said: "We are successful awesome shape. We person a batch of confidence. We person shown against Germany and Italy we tin play against nan large teams.

"We played good against nan reigning champions, we played good against nan hosts. We will origin problems for England."

England person been warned.