BERLIN — Luke Shaw said he is ready to repay the faith shown in him by England manager Gareth Southgate after overcoming injury problems to feature at Euro 2024.
Southgate’s decision to take Shaw as his only natural left-back in a 26-man squad has been lambasted with the Manchester United man sidelined for most of the tournament.
However, the 28-year-old made his first appearance for club or country since February as a late substitute as England beat Switzerland on penalties to set up a semifinal meeting with the Netherlands on Wednesday.
“The last four months have been really tough,” Shaw said according to AFP.
“At the start I was expected to come back a lot sooner but I went through quite a few setbacks.
“I’m here now and it was really nice to get on the other night.”
Shaw believes he is fit to start, although Kieran Trippier is expected to keep his place on the left side of a defence that has conceded just three goals in five games.
Southgate has been fiercely criticised for an overly cautious approach as England have stumbled their way into the last four despite a soft draw.
However, Shaw defended the England coach’s record in reaching three semifinals in four major tournaments in charge.
Prior to Southgate’s appointment, the Three Lions had only reached three semifinals in their history.
“He’s really taken us to the next level, no manager has really been as a successful as him,” added Shaw.
“I have a lot to thank him for because he showed a lot of faith and trust in picking me when he didn’t have to and for that I will always be thankful.
“Now I need to repay the faith he showed in me.”
Shaw scored the opening goal in England’s first major final for 55 years at Euro 2020.
However, that joy was soured by losing the match on penalties to Italy and provided more motivation to go one better this time.
“I remember the feelings after that game were the worst I’ve ever felt, so of course the motivation is very high,” Shaw said of the final three years ago.
“We’ve got world class players all over the pitch and it’s now time, the crunch (time) when those players will step up.
“In these moments that’s what you need and everyone is looking forward to another semifinal and trying to reach another final.”
England’s history at major tournaments is littered with penalty pain but they put that tortured past behind them to beat Switzerland and reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
The Three Lions were perfect from the spot with all five kicks in Duesseldorf, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford continued his fine penalty record by saving from Manuel Akanji.
England defeated Switzerland on penalties to keep their dreams of winning Euro 2024 alive as they advanced to a semi-final showdown against the Netherlands, who came from behind to defeat Turkey 2-1 in the day’s other match.
It was quite a contrast to the penalty heartbreak that Gareth Southgate’s England side went through three years ago when they lost the final of Euro 2020 on home soil.
As a player, Southgate also suffered the ignominy that comes with missing in a shoot-out more than most after his penalty was saved in the Euro 96 semifinal exit to Germany.
But the England manager’s attention to detail is helping turn the tide on their record with three wins from four shoot-outs under his watch.
England won a World Cup shoot-out for the first time in their history against Colombia in 2018 en route to the semifinals.
Victory in quarterfinal was just their second ever in a Euro in six attempts, while they also beat the Swiss in a third-place playoff at the 2019 Nations League finals.
“We think we’ve got a good process. We’ve been in four, we’ve won three,” added Southgate.
“Of course, we got absolutely crucified for the one we lost and that’s always going to be the case because it is outcome based.
“We refined that process a little bit. We have more regular penalty takers in the squad now than then and more that have been in shoot-outs.”
England’s poise from the spot was all the more impressive with Harry Kane replaced in extra-time due to fatigue.
The average age of the five takers was just over 23 and all had their own point to prove.
