England's Euro 2024 Qualifying Loss: Pavlidis' Goal Decides
England's perfect Euro 2024 qualifying campaign came to a shocking end on Friday night, as Greece secured a historic victory at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus. The Three Lions, who had previously won all seven of their qualifiers, were undone by a solitary goal from Giorgos Pavlidis in the 51st minute. The result leaves England in second place in Group C, behind Greece, and with a lot of questions to answer ahead of the tournament next summer.
A Shocking Start
The game began with England dominating possession and creating a number of early chances. However, they were unable to break down the stubborn Greek defense. Harry Kane came closest to scoring in the first half, but his header was well saved by Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Pavlidis' Goal
The second half started with England still controlling the game, but a moment of brilliance from Pavlidis changed everything. The Greek striker pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area, before firing past Jordan Pickford to give his side the lead. England tried desperately to find an equalizer, but Greece held firm and saw out the game.
England's Disappointment
The loss will be a huge disappointment for England, who had been considered one of the favorites to win Euro 2024. The team now faces a nervous wait to see if they can qualify automatically for the tournament. It was a night to forget for Gareth Southgate's side, who were outplayed by a resilient Greece side.
What Next for England?
This loss highlights the need for England to improve in several key areas. The team struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organized Greek defense. The team needs to find a way to break down teams that are well-organized defensively, especially with Harry Kane's lack of a suitable backup striker. Southgate will be under immense pressure to address these concerns before the next round of qualifiers in October.
The loss to Greece was a major setback for England's Euro 2024 ambitions. However, they still have a good chance of qualifying for the tournament. They will need to bounce back quickly and win their remaining qualifiers if they want to avoid a stressful playoff scenario.
