Timm Klose is following the performances of both the Swiss and English national teams at the European Championships. He sees a lot of room for improvement in the Three Lions, but the coach would have to make the right adjustments to achieve this.
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- England beat Slovakia 2:1 after extra time in the last 16 of the European Championship and will now face Switzerland.
- Their place in the quarter-finals cannot hide the fact that England have not come close to fulfilling their potential.
- Timm Klose believes that the English need a change of system because: "The players are not positioned where they normally play at the club."
- Klose's criticism is indirectly aimed at England coach Gareth Southgate.
By the skin of their teeth, England beat Slovakia 2:1 after extra time in the round of 16. Timm Klose, who played for Norwich City on the island for several years, sees "great insecurity" among the English. Why is that? "The players are not where they normally play at the club." These are words that can be understood as criticism of coach Gareth Southgate. Nevertheless, Klose says: "The bottom line is that the victory was not stolen."
Before and after the game against Slovakia, he spoke to Tottenham player James Maddison, a friend of his who has played seven times for the Three Lions but did not make the European Championship squad. "They're all a bit disappointed with the way the English play. I think there needs to be a change of system," says Klose, repeating that the players are not being used in the right place. As an example, he cites Man City star Phil Foden, who was named the best player in the Premier League last season but has hardly put one foot in front of the other at the European Championships so far.
Is it perhaps even better for the Swiss national team that they are facing England and not Slovakia? The 17-time international doesn't want to commit himself: "You can see it however you want." But perhaps the national team would actually be better off facing a team that wants to play and not just sit back and wait for counterattacks, says Klose.
