Luke Shaw has been out of action for England for over a year. He has been back since Saturday. For the semi-final, he is confident that he will be in the starting eleven.
England international Luke Shaw has demonstratively supported the heavily criticized head coach Gareth Southgate. "I don't understand the criticism. He's done so much for our country and us players, he's taken us professionals to a new level. No coach has been as successful as him in the recent past," said Shaw in a media session at the training camp in Blankenhain.
In four major tournaments, Southgate has reached the semi-finals three times with the Three Lions. On Wednesday, they will face the Netherlands in Dortmund for their next European Championship final appearance after 2021. "We players love him. He's exactly what we need. He enables us to show our best on the pitch," said the left-back. Shaw also thanked Southgate for calling him up for the European Championship after a long injury. "He has given me a lot of faith and trust."
Shaw ready for 90 minutes
Southgate is criticized above all for the way he plays football. Although the attack around captain Harry Kane, Champions League winner Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden is peppered with world-class professionals, the 53-year-old ex-professional likes to take a very cautious approach with plenty of defensive stability. Despite reaching the semi-finals, England's performances at this European Championship have been less than inspiring.
The 28-year-old Shaw, who had been absent for months, celebrated his comeback in the quarter-final against Switzerland. He played 42 minutes. "Of course I think I'm fit and ready for 90 minutes. It's up to Gareth now to decide," said the defender. So far, Kieran Trippier has taken on the role of left-back at the European Championships.
dpa
