Sky Sports have just revealed some really big news! Monaco-based Canal + Group, meanwhile, are dramatically increasing their Premier League coverage for the 2023-24 season, boosting live matches from 128 to a minimum of 215. This enhancement means that an impressive 80 percent of all televised Premier League games next season will be exclusively shown on Sky Sports. This decision follows intense criticism of the national men’s team after a dismal showing in last week’s international friendlies.
England’s national team suffered a setback during their match against Senegal, losing 3-1 at the City Ground. That defeat has cast doubt on the spirit and togetherness of the squad under the leadership of Thomas Tuchel. Our former captain Roy Keane has already been vocal about our lack of togetherness and fortitude. Most notably, is his insistence that “something is missing” from Tuchel’s setup.
Keane Questions Team Spirit
Roy Keane’s remarks on the England squad follow up from a disastrous June international window. In the interim, England achieved an unconvincing 1-0 win over Andorra. They were met by a sobering reality with a 3-1 defeat to Senegal. The scale of the disappointment has led Keane to analyze the squad’s atmosphere.
Keane specifically pointed out Kyle Walker’s performance, noting his sluggishness in attempting to stop Senegal’s equalizer. This event summed up the broader issues of Keane’s main concern, which was about the collective team character and fight when faced with tough adversity.
“Senegal played with freedom, enjoyment and a bit of quality,” – Roy Keane
The ex-Manchester United skipper had been most displeased with the reaction of the Three Lions after they conceded goals. It’s that urgency and composure shortfall, especially when the team goes down a goal in the scoreline, that he suggested was being increasingly wanted from his team.
“We’re missing that translation to the pitch. We had our best phase at 2-1 down and that shows me that maybe some players thought they had nothing to lose anymore,” – Roy Keane
Tuchel Defends His Squad
Answering the backlash, Thomas Tuchel explained his lineup and coaching decisions at a post-game presser. Tuchel has only had the team through four matches across two international camps since taking over at the beginning of this year. What he was most pleased with was the professionalism his players displayed between sessions on the training ground.
He started off by conceding that with a lot of new and inexperienced players, particularly in an international environment, the inconsistency could be expected in a tournament like this. With every controversial omission, Tuchel pointed to the history of performances to defend himself, insisting that England have done well in other major tournaments.
“I’m not so sure what it means, the weight of the shirt,” – Tuchel
In response to defending his selections, Tuchel told the media that he was confident the players would adjust and play better. He emphasized that each international camp is very important, particularly with the World Cup coming up so fast.
Kane Urges Caution
In the midst of that chaos, team captain Harry Kane pleaded with fans and pundits to avoid making knee-jerk reactions to the team’s recent play. Of particular note, as much as he agreed change is needed, he’s pointed out the alarming flashes of brilliance that his team have shown in their games.
Kane stated, “We had moments, but with and without the ball we’re not quite finding the right passes and tempo.” Quoting Game of Thrones, he talked about how important it is to not panic in the face of the bad news.
“There’s no excuses, we have to find it quick. We’re not meeting for a couple of months, the World Cup comes round really fast – so every camp is really important,” – Harry Kane
Kane’s message has been one of the urgency that’s felt within the group as they get set for all-important matches. The England women’s team has reached three semi-finals and two finals in their past four major tournaments. All this success has led to high expectations from fans and pundits alike.
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