England fears information leak disadvantage ahead of Euro 2024 semifinals
DÜSSELDORF, Germany — Two wins from what would be a historic triumph at Euro 2024, England doesn’t need to worry too much about leaks in its defensive unit.
Instead, it’s worrying about leaks in its information system and potential cracks in the code of silence that head coach Gareth Southgate wishes to keep airtight.
Leading into Wednesday’s semifinal against the Netherlands in Dortmund (3 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), Southgate has grown increasingly frustrated about the level of knowledge that has been made available to the public, surely and speedily finding its way into the hands of the team’s opponents.
"We do a lot of things," Southgate told reporters. "A lot of our processes have been shared, but then our tactical plan to the game was also shared three days before (the Switzerland game). It is so difficult for us because any element of surprise you might have with the opponent is gone three days before the game. It is quite incredible, really."
It wasn’t the longest comment Southgate has ever uttered, but there were a lot of layers to it, and it appeared to speak to concerns both past and present.
On its surface, he was talking about the decision to switch to a back three from a four-man defense for the quarterfinal victory over Switzerland on penalty kicks following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.
With Marc Guehi suspended after collecting two yellow cards, a change was needed. Instead of making a straight switch by bringing in Ezri Konsa to replace him, Southgate opted for three at the back and a greater midfield spread, employing Kieran Trippier and man of the match Bukayo Saka as wing-backs.
[Related: England's penalty takers foil racism — on and off the field at Euro 2024]
It turned out to be a good plan, but most English newspapers carried articles that Southgate was leaning toward that decision as early as Wednesday evening of last week.
Swiss head coach Murat Yakin is an astute tactician and may have guessed what Southgate was going to do anyway, but it is not hard to see how he may have gained a small edge by seeming to receive early confirmation of it.
There are multiple ways such things can emerge into the public sphere. Portions of training sessions are open to the cameras, so any line up or players grouped together in a certain way can give hints to journalists familiar with the team over a number of years.
Even things like which player is put up for media interview — someone not going to feature in a game is unlikely to be put forward — can be an indicator.
And then there are just real-life human factors. Players are people who are away from home for weeks at a time and, naturally, with access to multiple forms of communication. They talk to their families, who may not always be discreet. They talk to their agents, some of whom may already have an established relationship with reporters and may see currency in trading such information for future benefit.
When former England international Stan Collymore was scooping everyone and revealing the starters for each game of the 2010 World Cup, it was believed he was being fed the info by a person in the camp who was a personal friend.
Things have gone a bit further this week in regard to England’s approach to penalty kicks. As evidenced by the quarterfinal result, England has a way of doing things, from Jordan Pickford’s water bottle to player selection, mental approach and much more.
[Related: Jordan Pickford's wild water bottle is just the start of England's penalty preparation]
That’s the bit from the first part of Southgate’s answer, and that has mostly come from former members of the staff being more open in hindsight than the coach would have liked.
"Everybody else who used to work for the (Football Association) seems to have done that over a period of years," he said when asked to talk about his methods. "We’ll keep our counsel and prepare as thoroughly as we always do."
Former England FA "game insights" specialist Chris Markham was interviewed recently for a book about penalties, and spoke of how he had tried to increase the players’ "level of personal control."
The desire for secrecy has led to team media officials blocking journalists from asking certain questions. Guehi, Konsa, and Pickford have all been asked questions by reporters that were shut down before an answer could be given.
[Related: 'We can change our lives forever': England's shot at history still alive]
England has its quickest turnaround for this semifinal game and by Monday afternoon, just over 48 hours from kickoff, there had been a lot of speculation about what England might do, but no apparent leaks.
The discussions this time revolved around the role of captain Harry Kane, who has struggled during the tournament thus far and recorded only 27 touches of the ball in the last game, does not seem fully fit after a late-season back injury.
With Guehi available once again, there is a defensive decision too, another wrinkle being that Luke Shaw played his first soccer for five months after coming on as a sub on Saturday.
Back three, back four, a new forward, a new captain, back to an old combination or forward to a fresh one? All options for Southgate, who will be hoping whatever he chooses not only works, but stays private for a couple more days.
Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports. Follow him at @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the daily newsletter.
