Euro 2024

GARETH SOUTHGATE will again bring on England subs to take penalties from ‘cold’ if their last-16 clash with Slovakia goes to a shootout.The Three Lions boss was stung in the final of Euro 2020 when Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford missed spot-kicks against Italy after he brought them on in the last minute of extra-time.Gareth Southgate will again bring on England subs to take penalties from ‘cold’Credit: GettyFans will be desperate for England to get the job done in normal timeCredit: RexIf penalties do happen Ivan Toney will likely come on from the benchCredit: GettyBut he is confident enough to bring on specialists like Ivan Toney — yet to play at Euro 2024 — and Cole Palmer just to take penalties if needed. England are aiming to book a quarter-final against Switzerland and Southgate said: “The players are ready for that scenario if required.“We’ve a lot more regular penalty- takers for their clubs than three years ago, so there is more experience of that situation.“Hindsight is the master in those moments, you make decisions for the right reasons at the time with the evidence you have, but you will be the only one who ends up accountable.read more euro 2024 news“In the World Cup final, Argentina brought on Paulo Dybala at the end of extra-time and he scored in the shootout.“In the Europa League final in 2021, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer brought on Alex Telles and Juan Mata in the 123rd minute.”And they scored, they lost the shootout and he got slaughtered for not changing his goalkeeper!”Brentford strikerToney has a 93 per cent success rate from the spot, while Chelsea man Palmer has scored all 15 of his penalties as a professional.Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSEngland skipper Harry Kane, who has netted 15 straight penalties since his failure in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final, says he is confident in the spot-kick abilities of himself and his team.Kane said: “Whenever I miss a penalty, I pride myself on making sure I get on another good run. Germany vs Denmark clash suspended as LIGHTNING interrupts Euro 2024 last 16 tie“I have a technique I have always used and I don’t change that.“I look at the keeper and go through what penalty is going to be best in that situation. Then I execute to the best of my ability.“We have a lot of good penalty-takers compared to the last Euros. “Players who have taken some in high-pressure penalty shootouts or  big games.“I’m not sure it’s the best group of penalty-takers we’ve ever had but it’s the most experienced.“If needed, it’s something we’re prepared for.”Palmer scored 14 penalties for Chelsea last termCredit: GettyEngland’s five-point penalty shootout planEXPERT football psychologist Professor Geir Jordet has told Gareth Southgate and his players what they can do to give themselves the best chance of victory in any shootouts.And he has even thrown in a rogue, bold suggestion for the Three Lions manager…1. START PLANNING LAST YEAR “It’s about planning for the opposition’s penalty takers but also ‘how do we win the psychological game against each opponent?’2. SMART SOUTHGATE LEADERSHIP”Southgate will have two minutes to influence his players as effectively as possible, show he has a plan and get confidence across.”3. DICTATE AS A TEAM”A shootout is really a team performance. Have the goalkeeper walk with the penalty taker into the penalty area to basically create a two-versus-one against the other goalkeeper. Dominate the centre circle, support the players who missed.”4. ‘BULLETPROOF’ INDIVIDUAL ROUTINES “Have really good, individualised and rehearsed pre-shot routines that are bulletproof and polished so they’re more likely to be able to resist the stress and more likely to score.”5. SHOOT YOUR SHOT  “Practise the shot itself, trying to simulate penalty shootouts in training. Even recreating 20 per cent of a Euros final penalty shootout is going to have a benefit for your performance.”AND A JOR DROPPING IDEA…Jordan Pickford is the No1 but Dean Henderson actually has a far better penalty record – saving 8/22 (36 per cent) compared to Pickford’s 8/62 (13 per cent).Jordet said: “One could consider making a late substitution for a penalty shootout. I doubt that they dare to do it in case it fails and the pressure is even higher but it would be a very ballsy move.”England’s penalty shootout recordTHE dreaded penalty shootout.England’s nemesis at no fewer than SEVEN major tournaments since 1990, from the West Germany heartache at Italia 90 to Wembley woes on the brink of Euro 2020 final glory.But two shootout victories before the Italy defeat give some reason for optimism…1990 World Cup semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 04/07/1990 – LOST 4-3Euro 1996 quarter-final vs SPAIN, 22/06/1996 – WON 4-2Euro 1996 semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 26/06/1996 – LOST 6-5Friendly vs BELGIUM, 29/05/1998 – LOST 4-31998 World Cup last 16 vs ARGENTINA, 30/06/1998 – LOST 4-3Euro 2004 quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 24/06/2004 – LOST 6-52006 World Cup quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 01/07/2006 – LOST 3-1Euro 2012 quarter-final vs ITALY, 24/06/2012 – LOST 4-22018 World Cup last 16 vs COLOMBIA, 03/07/2018 – WON 4-3vs SWITZERLAND – Nations League third-place play-off, 09/06/2019 – WON 6-5Euro 2020 final vs ITALY, 11/07/2021 – LOST 3-2OVERALL: Played 11, Won 3, Lost 8 More

WHETHER he’s chaired off as a champion or booed out as a bozo, one thing is looking increasingly clear.The next time England go into a major finals there will be a new hand at the wheel.Gareth Southgate’s time as England boss looks like it will come to an end after Euro 2024Credit: GettyFor Gareth Southgate, Euro 2024 feels very much like the last waltz.Ideally leaving as a national hero, having led the Three Lions to glory, for all that demands the most fertile imagination even accounting for the draw turning into a golden highway.Yet the end of his eight-year tenure nonetheless and, regardless of results in Germany, we shouldn’t forget he is the man who restored belief in England when it was at rock bottom.Even Southgate himself is talking as though this is the final chapter, for all his ‘everyone hates me’ martyr-speak of late holds as much water as the Old Trafford roof.READ MORE ON ENGLANDWith skin that thin, best avoid blunt objects never mind sharp ones. A few chucked beer cups would have been a warm welcome for Graham Taylor and even Bobby Robson.‘Poor me’ implausibility aside, let’s assume the FA will indeed be seeking a new head coach. And where they should turn to find one.Eddie Howe and Graham Potter are the bookies’ favourites, for no other reason than they are English. Their managerial CVs hardly make them obvious choices.To be fair, neither did Gareth’s. There was no domestic People’s Favourite like Brian Clough, Harry Redknapp, Terry Venables and he was a safe pair of hands.Most read in Euro 2024Eddie Howe has been long-linked with the jobCredit: GettyEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSSo if there are no stand-out home-based candidates, what about widening the search across Europe? The FA haven’t been scared to do so in the past.Yet dear old Sven-Goran Eriksson was as likely to make the front page as back while Fabio Capello was an undeniable disaster.SunSport’s Latest Euro 2024 headlinesMany would love to see Pep Guardiola, but he is a man whose methods need detailed, day-to-day training-ground planning. They wouldn’t work with the odd week here and there.Jose Mourinho has his backers, too, yet there’s no way that’s happening. There was more chance of Cloughie getting a ten-year deal than him even getting an interview.So where do the FA look? What other paths are there? Well, one remains untrodden . . . one they’ve never tried before but could offer the perfect solution. South America.No, that’s not Argentine Mauricio Pochettino, who apparently would be right up for it.No s*** Sherlock, of course he would. But I’m talking bigger fish than him. Left-field lunacy?Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly keen on taking over the Three LionsCredit: PAWell, listen to the reasoning and you might just agree that, rather than illogical, it could be the obvious answer.Never before have England had such a deep pool of highly-skilled, flash-of-genius match winners.In the past there has been one stand-out — a Paul Gascoigne or Glenn Hoddle — who would have walked into any national side in the world. For all there were decent players alongside, none you’d categorically say the same about. This time, though, there are plenty. Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer. Anthony Gordon and Jack Grealish — who didn’t even make the squad. Turn-a-game stars for their clubs but shackled by play-safe national coaches whose aim isn’t so much about winning, as not losing. Imagine what these players could achieve under someone who let them express that talent. Someone more focused on skill than sweat.Someone who is all about high-intensity and quick-passing football, rather than play-it-by-numbers. The Charles Hughes approach. (Google him and try to stay awake).It needs someone comfortable with talent, not cowed by it. They certainly are in South America, so doesn’t that make it an obvious hunting ground? What about Colombia’s Nestor Lorenzo, on a ten-game winning streak after Friday’s Copa America victory over Costa Rica? The Argentine who once played under Ossie Ardiles at Swindon and has beaten the big guns of Europe and South America over the last year. Who also speaks English, incidentally. Or, braver still, Marcelo Bielsa, now galvanising Uruguay, getting goals out of Darwin Nunez and who knows the English game so well? Clubs have never been scared to look to the furthest fields for a manager, so why shouldn’t the national side do the same? The FA say they’re always willing to think outside the box. So, when it comes to replacing Southgate, maybe they should think outside the continent.Nestor Lorenzo would be a left-field option for EnglandCredit: GettyFormer Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is now managing Uruguay and could work wonders for EnglandCredit: GettyCOMMS AND GOTHE final whistle in Dortmund tonight didn’t just signal the end of Germany’s last-16 clash with Denmark but the end of an era. After 28 years, ITV — in their wisdom — have decided commentator Clive Tyldesley, 69 and still the best by a country mile, is surplus to requirements. If there’s a mic going spare, I know where I’d like to stick it — up the backside of the d***head who made the lunatic call.Clive Tyldesley’s time with ITV has come to an endCredit: RexALARM BELLSTHE one thing Jude Bellingham needs is a rest ­— and Sunday’s match against Slovakia is the perfect chance to give him one.Yes it’s a knockout game and Gareth Southgate will talk of well-organised opponents who will be tough to break down. But it’s not France or Spain.So why not stick him on the bench and get those batteries recharged to have a raring-to-go Jude against a serious rival later in the competition?That would also end the debates over moving Phil Foden inside and how to get Cole Palmer and Kobbie Mainoo in the side.It’s not as though they couldn’t turn to Bellingham if it was all going belly up.Which it really, really shouldn’t.And more to the point, if England need him to beat 300-1 outsiders they ain’t winning the Euros, that’s for definite.Jude Bellingham looks like he needs a restCredit: GettyWORTH THE WAITANOTHER week, another moan from Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Newcastle playing hard ball over releasing Dan Ashworth.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut instead of endlessly whining about how it’s unfair that the Toon don’t let the Manchester United have their way, here’s what he should really worry about.Why Manchester City didn’t kick up such a fuss when the Reds poached Omar Berrada as their new CEO?Manchester United are still waiting to Dan Ashworth to become sporting director at Old TraffordCredit: PA More

ENGLAND have been given their five-point plan to win penalty shootouts at Euro 2024.The Three Lions stumbled into the knockout stages in Germany with a narrow win over Serbia before drab draws with Denmark and Slovenia.England know they could have another penalty shootout at Euro 2024Credit: APSunSport has the plan to give the Three Lions the best chance of winningCredit: GettyBut from now on, starting against Slovakia in the last 16 tomorrow, there must be a winner – with games going to the dreaded penalties if level after extra-time.And that will bring up painful memories for England fans, from Italia 90 and Gareth Southgate’s Euro 96 Germany woes right through to the last Euros final, where Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma broke English hearts. However, expert football psychologist Professor Geir Jordet PhD has told Southgate and his players what they can do to give themselves the best chance of victory in any shootouts – as well as a rogue, bold suggestion for the manager. Jordet has spent 25 years studying psychology in the beautiful game, has worked as a consultant for Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Ajax and recently released his book, Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout. READ MORE ON EURO 2024Ahead of England’s showdown with Slovakia, he told SunSport his five-point plan to be successful from the spot…1. START PLANNING LAST YEAR Jordet: “Tip number one, start preparing last year. So basically, start preparing this a long time ago. “I don’t know what they’ve done but I hope they’ve done that for England’s sake.“It’s about planning for the opposition’s penalty takers but also ‘how do we win the psychological game against each opponent?’Most read in FootballEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSPreparation for a penalty shootout should have started well in advance of arriving in GermanyCredit: Getty“Some teams will for sure plan this. I’m very curious to see if England do as well.”2. SMART SOUTHGATE LEADERSHIPJordet: “Southgate needs to be very smart with his leadership right before a shootout. Honey the psychic Eagle predicts England vs SlovakiaEURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANY“He will have two minutes to influence his players as effectively as possible and he has to do better than I’ve seen him in the past, where he has taken very long and not been very assertive in his decisions. “This is the time to show his players that he has a plan and get confidence across to the players within those two minutes. That is critical.”Gareth Southgate needs to do better than he did before the Euro 2020 final shootout, says Geir JordetCredit: GettySouthgate suffered penalty heartache at Euro 96Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd3. DICTATE AS A TEAMJordet: “The team needs to have a plan for how to dictate and decide the penalty shootout from a team perspective. “It’s very common to look at a penalty kick as an individual performance but it’s really a team performance. “They need to have a plan for the goalkeeper to hand the ball over to the taker. “Maybe even plan to have the goalkeeper walk with the penalty taker into the penalty area to basically create a two-versus-one situation against the other goalkeeper. “They need to know how to dominate the centre circle, how to support the players who come back and maybe missed.“Most shootouts are won by a team that has missed one penalty or more. So even if you miss once, it’s not over.”England must approach any penalty shootout as a team performanceCredit: ReutersThe reaction when a team-mate does miss is so importantCredit: AFPEngland’s penalty shootout recordTHE dreaded penalty shootout.England’s nemesis at no fewer than SEVEN major tournaments since 1990, from the West Germany heartache at Italia 90 to Wembley woes on the brink of Euro 2020 final glory.But two shootout victories before the Italy defeat give some reason for optimism…1990 World Cup semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 04/07/1990 – LOST 4-3Euro 1996 quarter-final vs SPAIN, 22/06/1996 – WON 4-2Euro 1996 semi-final vs GERMANY, 26/06/1996 – LOST 6-5Friendly vs BELGIUM, 29/05/1998 – LOST 4-31998 World Cup last 16 vs ARGENTINA, 30/06/1998 – LOST 4-3Euro 2004 quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 24/06/2004 – LOST 6-52006 World Cup quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 01/07/2006 – LOST 3-1Euro 2012 quarter-final vs ITALY, 24/06/2012 – LOST 4-22018 World Cup last 16 vs COLOMBIA, 03/07/2018 – WON 4-3Nations League third-place play-off vs SWITZERLAND, 09/06/2019 – WON 6-5Euro 2020 final vs ITALY, 11/07/2021 – LOST 3-2OVERALL: Played 11, Won 3, Lost 84. ‘BULLETPROOF’ INDIVIDUAL ROUTINES Jordet: “Have really good, individualised and rehearsed pre-shot routines. “Every player who takes a penalty needs to have a bulletproof, polished way that they prepare the last seconds before they take the shot.“Because if they can focus on their small behaviours and thoughts, they’re more likely to be able to resist the stress and more likely to score.”It is important to have a set routine before taking a penaltyCredit: ReutersThe stress levels for a penalty are extremeCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun5. SHOOT YOUR SHOT  Jordet: “The shot itself of course is something that they should have practised, both individually and under as extreme stress conditions as you can make.“Training with mild anxiety will help prepare to perform under high anxiety.“I hope this team has tried to simulate penalty shootouts in training.“They don’t need to replicate it 100 per cent. It’s not going to be possible to recreate a Euros final penalty shootout but if they can do it 20 per cent, it’s going to have a benefit for your performance.”It is impossible to fully recreate the pressure of a penalty in trainingCredit: Sunday TimesDavid Beckham famously skied his effort against Portugal at Euro 2004Credit: ReutersAND A JOR DROPPING IDEA…Jordan Pickford is Southgate’s Mr Reliable No1 between the sticks.But Jordet actually suggested the idea of bringing on a different goalkeeper – just like when Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal subbed on Tim Krul at the 2014 World Cup.Jordet said: “Will Jordan Pickford be the goalkeeper? I think so. “But it’s interesting when England has another goalkeeper in their squad who statistically has a much better penalty-stopping record than Pickford. And that is Dean Henderson.“One could consider making a late substitution for a penalty shootout. I doubt that they dare to do it in case it fails.“The pressure is even higher but it would be a very ballsy move. I’m curious.”The stats are fairly conclusive, too.Pickford has saved eight of 62 penalties faced, most recently for Everton against Leicester’s James Maddison, but none for the senior England team.That works out at just shy of 13 per cent saved while Henderson’s record is three times better. The Crystal Palace stopper has also saved eight – but only faced 22, totalling a 36 per cent save percentage. Aaron Ramsdale, meanwhile, is on three out of 26 or 12 per cent. Whoever is in goal, though, Jordet is ready to see plenty of mind games from the England goalkeeper.Jordet added: “There are so many mind games in penalties ranging from visual distractions like dancing around, scuffing up the spot, confronting the taker, stealing the ball, trash talking. “What probably is my favourite is subtly delaying everything. “When the taker is ready to shoot but the goalkeeper is nowhere to be seen.READ MORE SUN STORIES“By doing that, they’re letting the penalty taker just stand and marinate in their own stress, which is horrible in a high-pressure situation, but this is all planned deliberately from a very cunning goalkeeper.”Geir Jordet’s book, Pressure: Lessons from the Psychology of the Penalty Shootout, has a foreword by Arsene Wenger and is available now from Waterstones and AmazonJordan Pickford has saved 13 per cent of penalties he has facedCredit: AFPDean Henderson boasts an impressive and far superior 36 per centCredit: GettyEmi Martinez has mastered the art of mind games during penalty shootoutsCredit: GettyGeir Jordet’s book looks at the psychology of penalty shootouts More