July 14, 2024 • 10 mins
There's hope that England can bring home a win ahead of the Euro 2024 final.
As the team gears up to face Spain, football writer Dominic Fifield joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Final of Euro twenty twenty four seven o'clock tomorrow morning,
New Zealand time England v Spain in Berlin. Dominic Fifield
is commissioning editor at the Athletic Football and hugely experienced
sports writer. He joined us a preview this one, Dom
Are you in any way able to succinctly sum up
England's run to the final?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Well, start started slowly and have been improving steadily along
the way, but some good thoughts as well, admittedly, but
belief is growing.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
I mean, look, it's they weren't impressive in the group.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
We know that Serbia, they beat Denmark, they were lucky
to get the draw against Slovakia Slovenia at that point
where that was a goalless draw and it was pretty
turgid stuff. But then you take the Slovakia game in
the last sixteen, when you know, when you equalize in
the ninety fifth minute with a bicycle kick from Duke
Bellingham and then score again earlier and extra time, you
(01:14):
start wondering whether your name's on the trophy and whether
the luck's going to turn to you this time, and
then with the Swiss likewise going behind late on equalizing
with a fantastic golf from Bacaya Suka.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
And then prevailing really in the penalty shootout.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
And I have to say that's the first time in
my life and I'm almost fifty where I've seen England
going into a penalty shootout and I've been utterly convinced
that Englam are going to prevail. They were going to
win that penalty shooter. And I think that it's little
things like that that actually demonstrates the Gareth Southgate effect
over this last six years at the Helm or eight
(01:52):
years at the Helm, sorry, it's really since the Russian
World Cup in twenty eighteen. There's a belief they're getting better,
there's a there's a depth of quality and I think
we'll go into this final tomorrow I'm not favorite, not favorites,
but with a very good chance of finally ending that drought.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
If they are to do that. Which England players are
most important?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well that's a really good question because I think instinctively
you say Phil Foden and Due Bellingham, but actually they've
only fired in fits and starts in this tournament. I
thought Foden was excellent in the last game in the
semi final, played really really well against the Dutch in
the first half and then came off midway through the
(02:39):
second half. Bellingham has come up with some timely moments,
but I think he's actually he hasn't quite looked at
his best, and I think you could probably argue he
hasn't looked at his best at club level either really
since the turn of the year, So maybe that's a
fatigue factor after a massive, massive year in his career.
But if I was to pinpoint players have to thrive.
(03:02):
The key to beating Spain, I'm sure is disrupting that
mid field is stopping from Rodery from dictating the player,
making sure that the partnership in there is is not
working as it has been so so brilliant, because if
you just front Rodriy, then they're danger man up front
Yamar williams.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Olmer.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
They they won't get the ball, they won't be able
to define the space to hurt England. So in that respect,
I would say that deck and Rice has to has
to be at this swarming best.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
He has to.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
He's run more than anybody else at this tournament. But
he's going to have another really, really busy night in Berlin.
I think Cobby Maynus has got to be all over
that midfield's got to dominate.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
And whoever joins in.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
That midfield from the back, whether that be John Stones,
Mark Gay or one of the fullbacks, Kyle Walker pushing
in here and Trip here, whoever plays, they've just got
to They've just got to prevail there.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
They've got to hold sway in the middle.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Because they do that, they have a chance, because they
will stop Spain playing and maybe maybe some of their
own individual talents up top, Foden Bellingham, Cane Sucker will
come to the four.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
And hurt them.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
How big a three do Spain?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
President, You only have to look at their performances over
the tournament.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
They won all their games.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
No one's ever done that before a Euros of They're
going through the entire tournament winning every match.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
They've got.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I think he's seventeen now, Yamal isn't he's He's just seventeen,
but my word, he plays like he's been playing for years.
That the kid is his quality. He's providing chances. He's
scored a wonderful, wonderful goal against the French. He's a
real talent at Barcelona and illuminating this tournament. Danie Olmo,
(04:58):
I think has been excellent in that number ten role.
He's come up with three gals himself. He's up there
with the Golden Boot potentially with Harry Kane and numerous
others since uefas strangely changed the rules over night on
that one.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
But and Nico Williams is just he's lightning quick.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
So they've got they've got an attacking threat and a
depth as well. I think there they probably lack a
world class center forward, which is probably cue now for
Ra Marata to score at Hatchrick in the final.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
But but I mean I think if England, England.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Will hope that the Alvarra Marata that leads the line
for Spain is the al Marata that underwhelmed at Chelsea
as opposed to the player that actually has got a
decent goals per game record and most of the leagues
he's played in apart from the Premier League.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
I think that they're slightly short there.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
And I think if you can disrupt Rodery, I mean
mainly did a wonderful job doing that in the f
A Cup final at the end of the season for
Manchester United against Manchester City.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
So there is a bit of previous there. There is
some hope.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
You look at the quality and logic says that Spain
should win it, But actually I just feel there's a
build up of belief around England and and I think
they've they've learnt their experience from from losing three years
ago in the final to Italy. We have to remember
that Spain haven't been in a major final for twelve years.
It's quite a long time for for a squad, a
(06:23):
nation of that such football talent, and maybe maybe that
experience can help England, maybe that maybe they can call
upon that. I think they they really have been summoning
that to get through the tighter moments of the tournament
so far, and they're going to need to do that
again in Berlin on the on the final evening.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Dom do we have any clarity about England manager Gareth
Southgate's future beyond this match when all loose, well not really.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Before the tournament began, he said that he intimated that
if if even won the tournament, he probably step aside.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
His contract expires at the end of this year calendar year.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
The FA have since a few stories were written this
week suggesting that the FA would would definitely go to
him and I'm try and persuade him to stay on
regardless of the result in Berlin, and I think there's
a logic to that. I think it's really strange. I mean,
the perception of Southgate has shifted again. I think there
were appeers in this in this tournament, not least when
(07:25):
he was being people were pelting him with empty beer glasses,
plastic beer glasses. You should be said again after Slovenia
and then the goal is drawed. It was it was
fairly ugly that I think people would felt that he
would have the handbrake on the team, that the talents
that we see thriving in the Premier League each week weren't.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Being able to express themselves. I didn't like the selections.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
They thought there was a bit of blind faith with
people like Caine who he didn't appear to be functioning
at full throttle, and that there was a period where
it was going a bit dicey, and I think England
went into proper siege mentality mode at at that stage,
started suggesting that the world was against him and it
worked for them that's sort of seemed to and through
that to shrug themselves awake and get back into some
(08:10):
kind of rhythm in the tournament. But I think that
would have hurt Southgate hearing that and seeing that amongst
the supporters of media. You know, he doesn't worry so
much about the media, and I think but actually the
grounds well now is he's been vindicated. I mean, everything
he's done in the last few games has come off
the substitutions he's made, the timing of them, the way
(08:31):
they prepared for penalties, the unity within the group and
the squad, and the fact that people seem to be
getting behind him and backing him and they are getting results.
And he is the only England manager that has taken
England to two major finals and you know, and three
he's reached three semi finals in four major tournaments in
charge and the other ones at quarter in Katar And
(08:52):
he actually look at his record and it's amazing, it's brilliant.
I mean, it's tournament football at his best. The Blaker's
got so much experience as a player and as a
manager in tournaments. He just knows how to find a
way through the next thing.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
He's got to do is win one.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
And if he does, and he'll have a choice, I
think there'll be a real clamor for him to stay
on for the twenty twenty six World Cup in the
United States, Mexico and Canada. I think people will want
to see him in charge, and you know it's but
he may look at it and think, well, what more
can I do? I've won, it's a trophy and I've
got an impackable record. Maybe now is the time, Maybe
(09:30):
his stock will be high at that point that he
might be able to get a club job, or might
just be able to go off into the sunset a
happy man. I think he's been wonderful for England. Wonderful
in the context of taking up the range in twenty
sixteen in very difficult circumstances.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
With the national team in a very low EBB.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
But if you look in the last eight years as
to what has happened in the world, let alone in
justin England, what he's navigated, the sort of sense of
reassurance that he's provided with the way he has spoken
or the way he has behaved or the way he
has coached the team, and the success he's gleaned for
the team at a time when we've gone through co
we've gone through political upheaval in this country and disenchantment
(10:11):
that's you know, societal problems.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Garre Southgate has actually been a source.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Of reassurance for us all and I think we will
properly miss him if he goes.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
He's been that significant.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I'll be very surprised if he doesn't end this tournament
with a knighthood at the very very least.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Wonderful to get your analysis, Don, Thanks so much for
joining us across New Zealand. Mate. I hope the game
goes the way you and your countrymen and women hope
it does, and look forward to catching up again sometime soon.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
I'll just hope he goes better than the rugby guy.
Let's see how it goes. Is all the best? Next?
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Yeah, Well, if your sake, I hope it does go
better than the rugby seven and a half away from
three Dominic Firefield out of the Athletic in the UK.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks it'd be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Final of Euro twenty twenty four seven o'clock tomorrow morning,
New Zealand time England v Spain in Berlin. Dominic Fifield
is commissioning editor at the Athletic Football and hugely experienced
sports writer. He joined us a preview this one, Dom
Are you in any way able to succinctly sum up
England's run to the final?
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Well, start started slowly and have been improving steadily along
the way, but some good thoughts as well, admittedly, but
belief is growing.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
I mean, look, it's they weren't impressive in the group.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
We know that Serbia, they beat Denmark, they were lucky
to get the draw against Slovakia Slovenia at that point
where that was a goalless draw and it was pretty
turgid stuff. But then you take the Slovakia game in
the last sixteen, when you know, when you equalize in
the ninety fifth minute with a bicycle kick from Duke
Bellingham and then score again earlier and extra time, you
(01:14):
start wondering whether your name's on the trophy and whether
the luck's going to turn to you this time, and
then with the Swiss likewise going behind late on equalizing
with a fantastic golf from Bacaya Suka.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
And then prevailing really in the penalty shootout.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
And I have to say that's the first time in
my life and I'm almost fifty where I've seen England
going into a penalty shootout and I've been utterly convinced
that Englam are going to prevail. They were going to
win that penalty shooter. And I think that it's little
things like that that actually demonstrates the Gareth Southgate effect
over this last six years at the Helm or eight
(01:52):
years at the Helm, sorry, it's really since the Russian
World Cup in twenty eighteen. There's a belief they're getting better,
there's a there's a depth of quality and I think
we'll go into this final tomorrow I'm not favorite, not favorites,
but with a very good chance of finally ending that drought.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
If they are to do that. Which England players are
most important?
Speaker 3 (02:17):
Well that's a really good question because I think instinctively
you say Phil Foden and Due Bellingham, but actually they've
only fired in fits and starts in this tournament. I
thought Foden was excellent in the last game in the
semi final, played really really well against the Dutch in
the first half and then came off midway through the
(02:39):
second half. Bellingham has come up with some timely moments,
but I think he's actually he hasn't quite looked at
his best, and I think you could probably argue he
hasn't looked at his best at club level either really
since the turn of the year, So maybe that's a
fatigue factor after a massive, massive year in his career.
But if I was to pinpoint players have to thrive.
(03:02):
The key to beating Spain, I'm sure is disrupting that
mid field is stopping from Rodery from dictating the player,
making sure that the partnership in there is is not
working as it has been so so brilliant, because if
you just front Rodriy, then they're danger man up front
Yamar williams.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Olmer.
Speaker 3 (03:24):
They they won't get the ball, they won't be able
to define the space to hurt England. So in that respect,
I would say that deck and Rice has to has
to be at this swarming best.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
He has to.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
He's run more than anybody else at this tournament. But
he's going to have another really, really busy night in Berlin.
I think Cobby Maynus has got to be all over
that midfield's got to dominate.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
And whoever joins in.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
That midfield from the back, whether that be John Stones,
Mark Gay or one of the fullbacks, Kyle Walker pushing
in here and Trip here, whoever plays, they've just got
to They've just got to prevail there.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
They've got to hold sway in the middle.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
Because they do that, they have a chance, because they
will stop Spain playing and maybe maybe some of their
own individual talents up top, Foden Bellingham, Cane Sucker will
come to the four.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
And hurt them.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
How big a three do Spain?
Speaker 3 (04:22):
President, You only have to look at their performances over
the tournament.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
They won all their games.
Speaker 3 (04:28):
No one's ever done that before a Euros of They're
going through the entire tournament winning every match.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
They've got.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
I think he's seventeen now, Yamal isn't he's He's just seventeen,
but my word, he plays like he's been playing for years.
That the kid is his quality. He's providing chances. He's
scored a wonderful, wonderful goal against the French. He's a
real talent at Barcelona and illuminating this tournament. Danie Olmo,
(04:58):
I think has been excellent in that number ten role.
He's come up with three gals himself. He's up there
with the Golden Boot potentially with Harry Kane and numerous
others since uefas strangely changed the rules over night on
that one.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
But and Nico Williams is just he's lightning quick.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
So they've got they've got an attacking threat and a
depth as well. I think there they probably lack a
world class center forward, which is probably cue now for
Ra Marata to score at Hatchrick in the final.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
But but I mean I think if England, England.
Speaker 3 (05:31):
Will hope that the Alvarra Marata that leads the line
for Spain is the al Marata that underwhelmed at Chelsea
as opposed to the player that actually has got a
decent goals per game record and most of the leagues
he's played in apart from the Premier League.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
I think that they're slightly short there.
Speaker 3 (05:48):
And I think if you can disrupt Rodery, I mean
mainly did a wonderful job doing that in the f
A Cup final at the end of the season for
Manchester United against Manchester City.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
So there is a bit of previous there. There is
some hope.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
You look at the quality and logic says that Spain
should win it, But actually I just feel there's a
build up of belief around England and and I think
they've they've learnt their experience from from losing three years
ago in the final to Italy. We have to remember
that Spain haven't been in a major final for twelve years.
It's quite a long time for for a squad, a
(06:23):
nation of that such football talent, and maybe maybe that
experience can help England, maybe that maybe they can call
upon that. I think they they really have been summoning
that to get through the tighter moments of the tournament
so far, and they're going to need to do that
again in Berlin on the on the final evening.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Dom do we have any clarity about England manager Gareth
Southgate's future beyond this match when all loose, well not really.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Before the tournament began, he said that he intimated that
if if even won the tournament, he probably step aside.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
His contract expires at the end of this year calendar year.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
The FA have since a few stories were written this
week suggesting that the FA would would definitely go to
him and I'm try and persuade him to stay on
regardless of the result in Berlin, and I think there's
a logic to that. I think it's really strange. I mean,
the perception of Southgate has shifted again. I think there
were appeers in this in this tournament, not least when
(07:25):
he was being people were pelting him with empty beer glasses,
plastic beer glasses. You should be said again after Slovenia
and then the goal is drawed. It was it was
fairly ugly that I think people would felt that he
would have the handbrake on the team, that the talents
that we see thriving in the Premier League each week weren't.
Speaker 4 (07:43):
Being able to express themselves. I didn't like the selections.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
They thought there was a bit of blind faith with
people like Caine who he didn't appear to be functioning
at full throttle, and that there was a period where
it was going a bit dicey, and I think England
went into proper siege mentality mode at at that stage,
started suggesting that the world was against him and it
worked for them that's sort of seemed to and through
that to shrug themselves awake and get back into some
(08:10):
kind of rhythm in the tournament. But I think that
would have hurt Southgate hearing that and seeing that amongst
the supporters of media. You know, he doesn't worry so
much about the media, and I think but actually the
grounds well now is he's been vindicated. I mean, everything
he's done in the last few games has come off
the substitutions he's made, the timing of them, the way
(08:31):
they prepared for penalties, the unity within the group and
the squad, and the fact that people seem to be
getting behind him and backing him and they are getting results.
And he is the only England manager that has taken
England to two major finals and you know, and three
he's reached three semi finals in four major tournaments in
charge and the other ones at quarter in Katar And
(08:52):
he actually look at his record and it's amazing, it's brilliant.
I mean, it's tournament football at his best. The Blaker's
got so much experience as a player and as a
manager in tournaments. He just knows how to find a
way through the next thing.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
He's got to do is win one.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
And if he does, and he'll have a choice, I
think there'll be a real clamor for him to stay
on for the twenty twenty six World Cup in the
United States, Mexico and Canada. I think people will want
to see him in charge, and you know it's but
he may look at it and think, well, what more
can I do? I've won, it's a trophy and I've
got an impackable record. Maybe now is the time, Maybe
(09:30):
his stock will be high at that point that he
might be able to get a club job, or might
just be able to go off into the sunset a
happy man. I think he's been wonderful for England. Wonderful
in the context of taking up the range in twenty
sixteen in very difficult circumstances.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
With the national team in a very low EBB.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
But if you look in the last eight years as
to what has happened in the world, let alone in
justin England, what he's navigated, the sort of sense of
reassurance that he's provided with the way he has spoken
or the way he has behaved or the way he
has coached the team, and the success he's gleaned for
the team at a time when we've gone through co
we've gone through political upheaval in this country and disenchantment
(10:11):
that's you know, societal problems.
Speaker 4 (10:13):
Garre Southgate has actually been a source.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
Of reassurance for us all and I think we will
properly miss him if he goes.
Speaker 4 (10:20):
He's been that significant.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
I'll be very surprised if he doesn't end this tournament
with a knighthood at the very very least.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Wonderful to get your analysis, Don, Thanks so much for
joining us across New Zealand. Mate. I hope the game
goes the way you and your countrymen and women hope
it does, and look forward to catching up again sometime soon.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
I'll just hope he goes better than the rugby guy.
Let's see how it goes. Is all the best? Next?
Speaker 5 (10:42):
Yeah, Well, if your sake, I hope it does go
better than the rugby seven and a half away from
three Dominic Firefield out of the Athletic in the UK.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks it'd be weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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