England’s major trophy drought extends back to 1966, with their recent defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final highlighting existing concerns. According to former England manager Fabio Capello, three key areas stand out as potential weaknesses for the team in crucial moments. These include the central defenders, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, and England’s history of underperforming in later stages of tournaments. Despite acknowledging the strength of the midfielders and forwards such as Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka, Capello expressed his concern regarding the team’s occasional display of fear when it comes to decisive moments.
Capello also raised doubts about England’s chances of winning the Euros, primarily due to uncertainties surrounding the centre backs and goalkeeper. He specifically highlighted the inconsistent performance of Pickford, stating that while he can be exceptional at times, there are instances where he becomes an issue by shooting long balls after 20 minutes, raising questions about his attitude towards challenges. The former manager emphasized the importance of a reliable goalkeeper for the defenders and expressed his preference for the ball to be away from his side. In their remaining group stage fixtures, England is set to face Denmark and Slovenia, where they will look to address these concerns and secure their position in the tournament.
