Crouchy’s Shouts: England edge past Slovakia in 12/1 Bet Builder

Crouchy says England should get past Slovakia - with a hopefully improved performance - in the last 16 of Euro 2024

By / Euros, Football Tips / 2 days ago

England v Slovakia Betting Tips

CROUCHY’S BET BUILDER

England to Win
Harry Kane to Score Anytime
Phil Foden To Assist
Bukayo Saka to Have 1 Or More Shots On Target
Jude Bellingham To Commit 1 Or More Fouls

Sunday, June 30 – 5pm: England v Slovakia
Euro 2024 Round of 16 match at Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
Where to watch: ITV1, RTE2

First of all, while I agree with a lot of what people are saying about the performances, some of the abuse the manager’s been getting is way over the top.

I’m as critical of some of his decisions as everyone else, but now we’ve got a route to the final here where it couldn’t be any better.

Even though we’re not playing well, you can easily imagine a scenario where we go and win the next few games with the players we have and then they’ll be building a statue of Gareth Southgate – they were throwing cups at him through the tournament?!

It’s got to be one of the most volatile jobs in the world.

England manager and Prime Minister – they’re the worst two things you can ever be.

You would have questions though. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher have been put in the team and then taken out and it’s detrimental to the player. You’ve had games before to try things out rather than doing it at a tournament.

When Cole Palmer came on there was a fresh impetus about the team, and even Anthony Gordon in a few minutes looked sharp. I’ve said it all tournament that Jude Bellingham can easily drop back in alongside Declan Rice and Phil Foden is much happier playing higher up, so that’s what I would do with Anthony Gordon on the left, Saka on the right and Kane in the middle.

Some people are talking about dropping Harry Kane but I don’t think there’s any need to change that. He might not have been up to his normal level but I think if you have more pace around him he’ll come good.

If I thought he wasn’t having a good game I’d take him off later – Cole Palmer can potentially go in as a false nine off the bench – but Harry Kane is still the man to lead England to victory.

I know we always want the young, new player every time someone comes along but he’s one of the best England players of this generation and I just don’t think it makes sense to drop him in a tournament.

We need to create more for him. The issues on the left have shown that not bringing a cover there was a mistake.

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I saw Ben Chilwell on holiday in Portugal and was thinking ‘he’s fit’ and everyone knew beforehand that we haven’t got a naturally left-sided player for the tournament.

Luke Shaw’s been brought in the squad but he’s been injured for a long time. Every time we take someone who’s a doubt like that, it very rarely works, does it?

It’s very frustrating – we don’t bring Chilwell, who is a left-sided player, and, as much as I like Kieran Trippier, he’s not a left-back, he’s a right-back!

England to Win

Even with these issues the way I look at the draw is just so good for us. It couldn’t have worked out any better.

I know a lot of fancied teams have struggled though. Look at the Belgium game against Slovakia. Look at Portugal against Georgia the other night. England against Slovenia – these are not simple games.

 

Slovakia will look at the Slovenia game and think the longer they can keep it tight and stay in the game the more chance they have of making an impact.

So I think it’ll be scrappy again, we could see another 1-0 like the Serbia game. I can’t see us blowing teams away.

Maybe in the latter stages when better sides are willing to take chances there’ll be more gaps for players like Saka to run into but this’ll be another scrappy one and England should just edge it.

Harry Kane to Score Anytime

I’ll go for Harry Kane just to nick one. I mean, he’s had two chances, one was an unbelievable save and the other he scored. He’s a ruthless finisher and if we create chances he’ll take one.

Phil Foden To Assist

Phil Foden’s back in England but should return to play and if he’s given that central role we know he’ll create chances.

Bukayo Saka to Have 1 Or More Shots On Target

If we can get some balance from someone like Anthony Gordon on the left then that and will give Bukayo Saka more of a chance to cause trouble and get an effort on goal at least.

Jude Bellingham To Commit 1 Or More Fouls

It’s going to be a tight, scrappy game and there are bound to be a few fouls and cards, especially with the way the refs have been in the tournament so far. Jude Bellingham seems like a good shout for a foul in the midfield battle.

England v Slovakia Bet Builder Tips

England to Win
Harry Kane to Score Anytime
Phil Foden To Assist
Bukayo Saka to Have 1 Or More Shots On Target
Jude Bellingham To Commit 1 Or More Fouls

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