Gareth Southgate issues ban on England players ahead of Euro 2024 semi final

Gareth Southgate is keen for England to remain tight-lipped about England’s penalty tricks (AP)

England players have been ordered not to disclose any details to the media about the team’s approach to penalties ahead of their Euro 2024 semi final against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

The Three Lions needed a penalty shootout to see off Switzerland in their quarter-final tie on Saturday and are now one game away from reaching back-to-back finals in the European Championship.

Gareth Southgate’s players delivered an impressive performance in their shootout against the Swiss, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford producing a save to deny Manuel Akanji, while Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all scored their efforts.

England have made a notable transformation when it comes to penalties as before Southgate’s arrival as manager in 2016, the Three Lions had lost six out of seven shootouts at major tournaments since 1990.

But since Southgate has been in charge, England have now won three out of four penalty shootouts at major tournaments, with their only loss being against Italy in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley three years ago.

Ivan Toney, Bukayo Saka and Jordan Pickford all played their part in England’s shootout success against Switzerland (AMA/Getty)

Jordan Pickford had details of Switzerland’s penalty takers on his water bottle (Getty)

However, England’s success behind their shootouts is being kept a closely guarded secret at Euro 2024 with Pickford, Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa all prevented from answering questions about penalties so far this tournament.

Speaking before England’s last-16 win over Slovakia, Southgate also refused to elaborate on his side’s plan for penalties.

‘Everybody else who used to work for the FA seems to have done that over a period of years,’ he said.

‘We’ll keep our counsel and prepare as thoroughly as we always do.’

Southgate was also furious that England’s tactics were leaked by the media in the build up to the quarter-final tie with Switzerland.

‘We do a lot of things. As I said, we’ve won three out of four and a lot of our processes have been shared,’ Southgate said.

‘Our tactical plan for the game was also shared three days before. We live in an amazing world where it’s so difficult for us because any element of surprise you might have with the opponent is gone three days before. It’s quite incredible really.’

Meanwhile, Bellingham revealed Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, the former Netherlands international and current England coach, has played a key role in England’s preparations for penalties during Euro 2024.

‘I was really confident in my preparation, confident in the things I talked through with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, he’s stepped up for us massively,’ Bellingham said after England’s win over Switzerland.

‘It’s the work that he does behind closed doors, with the lads being willing to take on that information, that put us in those situations in order to be able to win.

‘So this is a massive team effort. Another thing is Dean Henderson, Aaron Ramsdale, Tom Heaton, who have been with us this camp, they’ve been huge in helping us practice the penalties.

‘Again, they won’t get the credit they deserve but essentially, if they don’t put in the right effort, you don’t have the right practice to go out and execute. It’s a massive team win.’

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