The most important of the least important things.
Picture credit: wearkudos.com
Well, thank god for that. The general election has come and gone, and six arduous weeks of campaigning is finished.
It is now time to refocus our minds on the most important of the least important things.
That is football.
As much as we would like to focus solely on tactics there can be no doubt that the England team is a great unifier.
Every two years the nation comes together and supports a group of lads from different backgrounds that represents us in a way that no political entity could.
And beating the Swiss on Saturday in Düsseldorf will go some way in healing wounds across the country.
However, Gareth Southgate’s task is not an easy one. Switzerland are well drilled and organised.
They thrive in major tournaments and regularly take the scalps of the major footballing nations.
This has continued at Euro 2024, outplaying Italy in the last 16 and were a minute away from defeating the hosts Germany in the group stages.
Murat Yakin’s team have shared their seven goals around the squad. Proving that the Swiss are not reliant on a couple of standout players like England have been in at Euro 2024.
Captain Granit Xhaka – fresh from winning a German double for Bayer Leverkusen – is more than capable of dominating an underperforming English midfield.
Breen Embolo will also test an English defence that is now weakened after Marc Guéhi’s suspension.
According to media reports Southgate is going to switch to back three for this match.
Whether this is to match the Swiss up man for man or that Luke Shaw is still unavailable is up for debate.
What isn’t, is the frustration from supporters that the media are reporting this tactical change before a huge game.
I get it. England starting line-ups are a story. It generates discussion and therefore generates clicks and money.
But if I was Southgate, I would be furious that there was a mole within my camp at a time when the squad is already under huge pressure to progress to the later stages.
However, the country has been screaming out for a change of approach.
Should change come then there is hope that Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham can finally co-exist within the same team.
Fortunately, the 21-year-old is available after UEFA only decided to fine him after making a ‘crude gesture’ against Slovakia.
Bellingham’s influence will once again be critical, but it is also imperative that England play as a more cohesive unit and create more chances for Harry Kane.
Now, I know this is hopeful.
The likelihood is that the country is going to suffer another emotional rollercoaster to reach the semi-finals.
Southgate’s squad will once again have to be utilised and the substitutes will have to be as effective as they were in last 16.
But if England can win here, then supporters can start to dream, and how they got there will be viewed as irrelevant.
After years of division, this football team could finally provide unity to a country that badly needs it.
