“There is never a surprise play by anyone” - Dutch legend explains why watching England is a ‘snoozefest’

Dutch legend Marco van Basten has claimed that England players lack the element of surprise, which makes watching the Three Lions play a boring affair. This comes after their poor performances at UEFA Euro 2024 in Germany.

Gareth Southgate's side are currently tied goalless in their final Euro 2024 group game against Slovenia (Tuesday, June 25). Despite having a talent-rich squad, they have barely dominated a game so far this tournament. After scraping past Serbia with a 1-0 win in their Euro 2024 opener, they were held to a 1-1 draw by Denmark.

They are yet to find a goal against Slovenia as well. Van Basten has termed watching England as a 'snoozefest'. The 1988 UEFA Euro winner said (via TheEuropeanLad on X):

"Watching England doesn't make me happy. There is never a surprise play by any player, this is why it's snoozefest."

Against Slovenia, the Three Lions dominated possession (74%) at the time of writing (60'). However, they haven't been able to create something extraordinary.

Lack of creativity has been a persistent complaint against the side during Gareth Southgate's stint as the manager. The consensus is that he prefers a safe approach despite having quality players who can make a difference.

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England boss Gareth Southgate addresses the criticism against him

The Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate was recently asked about the criticisms against him. He said that he has learned to block those out over the years. Addressing the media ahead of the Slovenia game, Southgate said (via BBC):

"That's the world we're in. I'm oblivious to it, it's not important to me at all. What's important to me is I guide the group of players through the tournament. We're a high-profile team with expectations and we undestand everything will be scrutinised. I'm very comfortable with that life."

The Three Lions finished as runner-ups at Euro 2020, losing to Italy on penalties in the final. They certainly have the quality to go one step further at Euro 2024. However, the burden of expectation could yet again be too much, as it historically has been for under-achieving teams.