Pep Guardiola solution offered to England before Euro 2024 quarter-final

Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has questioned whether Pep Guardiola’s tactical nous could be the missing piece for England’s Euro 2024 hopes.

There’s a palpable sense of unease among fans as Gareth Southgate’s side prepare to face Switzerland in Saturday’s quarter-final clash. The Three Lions are still tipped as one of the favourites to win the tournament despite failing to sparkle in Germany thus far.

And Agbonlahor has pondered whether Manchester City boss Guardiola might just be the man to help England overcome their struggles against deep-lying opponents. The Catalan has a storied history of dismantling defensive setups with every club he’s managed, from City to Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

“We’ve got some of the best players in the world, and we look clueless. We can’t get through a low block,” Agbonlahor lamented on talkSPORT (via the Manchester Evening News). “As crazy as it sounds, I feel like [asking] can Pep Guardiola do a session with them to get through a low block, because that’s what Manchester City have to get through every week. And they do it with ease.”

While it’s unclear exactly why Guardiola would assist one of Spain’s rivals, many will find the idea of City’s chief – who has a contract at the Etihad until 2025 – coaching England an intriguing proposition. That’s particularly the case with Southgate expected to vacate his role after Euro 2024.

The former Middlesbrough boss led England to a second-place finish at Euro 2020 but has seen his team struggle for creativity in Germany. Conquering the attacking third has been a largely futile quest for England at Euro 2024 despite a promising qualification campaign.

Their progression to the quarter-finals was secured with a tetchy 2-1 win in extra time over Slovakia. The Three Lions were on the verge of exiting the tournament altogether until their place in the running was rescued in dramatic circumstances.

They advanced thanks to an extra-time goal from Harry Kane after Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute leveller. However, fans still can’t help but wonder why one of the most valuable squads in the tournament has looked quite so turgid in attack – and Southgate at least using some inspiration from Guardiola certainly can’t hurt.

A nail-biting quarter-final encounter awaits with Switzerland – a team that has looked impressive throughout the tournament. Adding to the tension, the Swiss are coming off a 2-0 victory over Italy – the same team that edged England to the European title three years ago.