Euro 2024: England players lacking intensity amid 'Bloody' difficult conditions, admits Gareth Southgate

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England manager Gareth Southgate has hinted that his squad's fitness levels are lacking, following a lacklustre start to the Euro 2024 campaign.

Despite securing four points from their first two matches, England's defensive and uninspired performances have drawn criticism from fans and pundits. They started the campaign with a 1-0 win over Serbia, and then only managed a 1-1 stalemate against Denmark.

Southgate admitted that his team has limitations and struggles to play a pressing game due to their physical condition. He also pointed out the team's difficulty in maintaining possession and building play with control.

The team has been further hampered by injuries to key players like Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Bukayo Saka, and Harry Kane. These absences have added to the challenges faced by Southgate's squad.

Southgate suggested that the players "care too much" about winning a major international trophy, which might be adding undue pressure. Declan Rice echoed this sentiment, noting that the team is "so desperate" to succeed and sometimes puts too much pressure on themselves.

"We are not pressing well enough, with enough intensity. We have limitations in how we can do that with the physical condition. We can't press as high up the pitch as we might have done in the qualifiers, for example," Southgate said recently.

The lack of pressing and fitness concerns have been identified as significant factors affecting their performance. Southgate acknowledged the high expectations and challenges they face, emphasising the need to find a better way of playing. The team's inability to keep possession and build with control has been a recurring issue. Southgate believes that firm leadership is essential during this difficult period.

"We are trying to do something that has never been done before. So that is going to be a bit of a rollercoaster. It's not going to go smoothly when you are trying to achieve extraordinary things. They are bloody difficult," he added.

It will be a massive night as the Three Lions face Slovenia in their final group stage match on Tuesday.