Speaking exclusively to Gambling Zone, Louis Saha has predicted Switzerland to ease past England to end the hopes of the Three Lions at Euro 2024.
Saha has also hailed Cristiano Ronaldo for playing for his legacy in Germany this summer and called out ‘ridiculous’ criticism of the five-time Ballon d’Or winning forward.
The Manchester United hero has also urged his former club to sign Leny Yoro over Matthijs de Ligt and also bring in Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
- Switzerland will ease past England
- Jude Bellingham has been tired for five months
- Cristiano Ronaldo is playing for his legacy
- Man Utd need Leny Yoro and Victor Osimhen
- Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would provide great balance at Old Trafford
Q: What have you made of criticism of England and France at Euro 2024?
LS: “It's been the same for both England and France at Euro 2024, but I think people need to recognise that the competition isn’t easy and teams are there to frustrate you, especially in the group stage.
“Winning is the most important thing and Gareth Southgate and Didier Dechamps have done that. It’s easy for fans to be frustrated with the quality of players both teams have, but it’s not easy for these managers to change their style to a more positive one and take risks.
“What’s not easy is having to listen to every opinion from pundits.”
Q: What do you make of pundit criticism of England and Gareth Southgate?
LS: “We have pundits acting as though they are managers who could do better than Gareth Southgate in every game, it’s ridiculously unfair. It’s easy to talk when you are sat in the studio.
“We’ve seen a lot of these pundits as managers and they have struggled. I don’t think it’s right, it negatively affects the team by increasing the pressure on them even more.
“The manager is the manager and he makes the decisions, that’s not going to change during the competition so I don’t understand why all pundits do is complain.
“The players have hit back at the pundits and it’s their right to do that, yes you can say they get paid millions to play football but they have so much pressure on their shoulders.
“If you want to see your country win, support them because all the criticism and negativity doesn’t help. These critics who are not even relevant have been piling on, Southgate has had to deal with 50 million people and he’s never going to please everybody.”
Q: What changes do England need to make against Switzerland?
LS: ‘Gareth Southgate is never going to please everybody, he’s going to have to deal with calls to play Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham out of position.
“I understand that’s football but history has shown that England haven’t done well in tournaments and I’m surprised that the negativity comes from within rather than abroad or the opposition.
“It's the same for France. Didier Deschamps is living under the same pressure, the difference maybe is because Deschamps has won the World Cup - but they have the same style.
“People can say they have a similar approach or pragmatic approach, but they’re both into the quarter-finals.”
Q: Is Gareth Southgate to blame or the players?
LS: “Both Gareth Southgate and the players can take some blame but at the end of the day the players have to find a way to perform and be as courageous as Switzerland.
“They are still in a good position and now they need to find the formula to go further and that could start with a single player.
“Sometimes in football you need to inject intensity and don’t let the opposition stop you from expressing yourself. They need to have courage.”
Q: Can England still win Euro 2024?
LS: “England can still win Euro 2024. It’s not about style, it’s about results. Look at Portugal in 2016 who won the trophy without playing incredibly well.
“I’m sure that England fans will be very very happy if England lift the trophy without playing well, because that has been missing for so many years.
“That’s why people need to stop complaining about every element of the game, now isn’t the moment to think about changing the players or the manager.
“With England especially, when players don’t play well or miss a chance then they get absolutely hammered which won’t help them relax and trust each other which they need to do go on and lift the trophy.”
Q: What have you made of Jude Bellingham’s struggles?
LS: “When I see Jude Bellingham I see a guy that has been tired for the last four or five months. He looks creatively tired as well.
“After all that magic in the first six months It was difficult to find the same spark, it’s similar with Buyako Saka, the creative players don’t have the backing or the confidence they need at the moment it won’t come back if they are being criticised.
“When they make mistakes they get hammered for it, they need to play with freedom and be more relaxed.”
Q: What do England need to do against Switzerland?
LS: “England are under massive pressure and they need to play with the spirit of the Brazilian national team, need to look like they are enjoying it when they’re playing.
“When you feel the spirit of the fans and your team-mates, you have an extra kind of confidence that makes you do things that only special players can do.“
Q: What gives Germany an advantage at Euro 2024?
LS: “First of all, they’re playing at home and they’re showing spirit, like when they beat Brazil 7-1 at the 2014 World Cup. It’s about having that belief, not everything is about tactics, it’s about quality.”
Q: Are Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe in the same situation?
LS: “You can see that Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe are amazing players and are talisman for their teams, they just need to find consistency now.
“The teams need a foundation and that is where the quality of those players, those magic moments can appear. That's the thing that you need to build on.
“I'm definitely not worried about Kylian Mbappe even though he has faced difficulties with his broken nose.
“France need the player that did so well in the World Cup and had the magic moments like he had against Argentina.”
Q: Could Spain be seen as favourites for Euro 2024?
LS: “Teams that have had success in the past can develop their game based on those styles and everybody has tried to copy the style of Spain.
“Spain are helped by the fact that they won it before, they know that their country can do it under pressure and they have already shown more quality than the other favourites for the tournament.
“Now they could have two or three games in the competition in which they need to show the same style. They have great players going forward but they are young and the final stages of competitions are very different.
“These players haven’t been there before so in my view England, France and Germany are better equipped to win the tournament. Switzerland have all been courageous in their games
“Spain will still face some really strong teams from now on, so we’ll have to see.”
Q: What have you made of Cristiano Ronaldo’s emotion, is he putting pressure on himself?
LS: “The emotion shown by Cristiano Ronaldo, that is part of who he is. He may not have expressed it much in the past but he's so passionate especially for Portugal but for all of his clubs.
“He’s the only player in the world who expresses it so much, this guy has scored almost 1000 goals and you won’t see anyone celebrating as much as he does or being so upset by not scoring.
“He’s playing for his life, he’s playing for his legacy. You can’t compare him to other players, he’s not normal. It’s part of who he is and I can’t understand all the criticism.
“Look at Frank Leboeuf saying that Portugal can’t win the tournament if Cristiano Ronaldo starts, it’s ridiculous. He’s passionate, he wants to win and he still has the ability.
“You can call him selfish but that’s part of the game, he wants to score as many goals as possible and I’d always have him in my team. He’s the best ambassador for young kids getting into football, his expression when he misses a chance is what you need.
“Why would you want someone to walk away like they don’t care? Men are allowed to cry, men are allowed to show emotion criticising him for that is just not fair.
“Football is about believing in yourself and this is a guy who has scored 500 more than pretty much anyone else, if you had to spend a day in his body it would be too much to handle.”
Q: Will France defenders still fear Cristiano Ronaldo?
LS: “France defenders will still fear Cristiano Ronaldo, you only have to watch him to see he still attracts two defenders and in a split second he can change any game.
“His movement is still great and that makes all the difference for himself and his team-mates and it’s such a difficult thing to play against.
“William Saliba and the defence will have to think very closely about playing against Ronaldo as well as any team who faces Portugal because he can change the game in a split second.
“Cristiano is a massive threat, he is still one of the best goalscorers in the world. People that try to disrespect him do not understand football. It’s crazy what he is still doing, he’s making better runs than players who are 25. He is world class.”
Q: Who have been the best young players at Euro 2023?
LS: “I really like Arda Guler and Lamine Yamal. I can see the kind of responsibility that they take on in their squads and it's unbelievable at their age to do that.
“Guler is doing it for Turkey too, who have a very passionate fan base. He has amazing quality and I’ve been really impressed with his ability to create and his rhythm.
“With Yamal, it’s incredible. He’s just a baby. It’s frightening what he can do at his age. At Euro 2024, no one has come close to Arda Guler and Lamine Yamal.”
Q: Which other players have impressed you the most?
LS: “I’ve been surprised by N’Golo Kante and his energy, he’s still got his confidence and in the first two games in particular he was just unbelievable. He has really impressed me.
“I also have to pick Granit Xhaka for Switzerland, he has been a revelation with Bayer Leverkusen and now for his national side.”
Q: What is your prediction for Germany vs Spain?
LS: “Germany vs Spain is a tough one to call, Spain can damage the defence of Germany and it will be a great game to watch - but I think it will go to penalties.
“Jamal Musiala will be an important player in midfield and I’ve been impressed by how he has managed the pressure. Germany are playing at home as well and their players have been expressing themselves.
“This sort of game is why we love the Euros.”
Q: What is your prediction for France vs Portugal?
LS: “I think we will see goals in France vs Portugal, even though that hasn’t been the case for France at the moment. I think this is the moment that France will get really pushed and where they have to fight.
“I think France will score and put themselves in a position to go and score a second and potentially a third goal. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe will also be desperate to produce on the big stage. I think we will see the best of them.
“I think France will come out victorious, so I’ll go for a 2-1 win.”
Q: What is your prediction for Netherlands vs Turkey?
LS: “I’ve got a good feeling about Turkey against the Netherlands, given the energy level they show - the Netherlands could end up crumbling.
“They conceded stupid goals at times so I do think that Turkey can really upset them and I do think that it's going to be a surprise there. I’ll say 1-0 to Turkey.”
Q: What is your prediction for Switzerland vs England?
LS: “You can see that Switzerland have a very strong set-up and are mentally strong too. They are very courageous going forward, defensively very solid and haven't conceded as many goals.
“Their performances have not been by luck and I think it will be a huge challenge for England, something very different to what they have faced so far.
“England need to be faster going forward, a bit more courageous and be able to manage the transitions between defence and midfield.”
Q: Could it be another 2-0 win for Switzerland?
LS: “It could be the same as the Italy game, 2-0 to Switzerland. Their formation gives them the advantage and they play one or two touch football.
“It’s a really strong set-up and it’s exciting to watch. When I watch England it’s really bad, you can close your eyes for 10 minutes and miss nothing.”
Q: Who will win Euro 2024?
LS: “I think France will win Euro 2024, I think that they have the experience. Obviously, they haven't won the competition for something like 24 years but I think playing against Portugal will bring in the revenge factor from 2016 as well.
“Getting that revenge will give France an advantage. After that I think France will be able to show their highest level and will be very hard to beat.”
Q: What have you made of Harry Kane finding goals during poor performances?
LS: “Harry Kane hasn’t been at his best but he still finds a way to score, that's the nature of a good goalscorer. You have to have this spirit and belief and know that sometimes you might only get one opportunity. You have to be focused and ready for it.
“He's very good in the air, he's very good with his feet and sometimes outside the box. But when there is not much commitment going forward around him, it's so much harder for him.
“Clever players like Foden and Saka need to go in behind him, that hasn’t happened enough because the block is too low. Bellingham’s movement is often more about pressing than creating chances, England just need to give Kane one chance to score.”
Q: Were Manchester United right to keep Erik ten Hag at the club?
LS: “The right conclusion for Manchester United depends on what Erik ten Hag has planned for next season, if it’s the same as last season then he won’t be in the job for very long, if they hadn’t won the FA Cup he would’ve been gone already - it wasn’t good enough.
“Even when United have won some games they haven’t deserved too, losing 15 games isn’t good enough either.
“I’m sure that players and staff who could actually help to turn the club around have been identified because last year was unacceptable and Ten Hag knows that.
“He may not say it because in front of the press he always tries to find a way to be very confident and that's okay.
“But yes, I think it was the right decision if he has created a new plan or a better plan which is very important.
“The process for the board to look at new managers is to try to compare the solution, the plan that those other guys have offered.
“Based on what Ten Hag knows and what he has done in the last two years they have decided that he has the best formula. He needs to be helped with transfers very quickly.
“He needs to be helped by the staff. I think that's what we have heard that has been done, which is great. And that's it. So let's see a better result next year.”
Q: What would Ruud van Nistelrooy bring to Manchester United?
LS: “First of all, Ruud has become a complete manager and can create a style going forward but also across the field. He can definitely help this connection that has been missing between the forwards and midfield. When you have a striker like Rasmus Hojlund, it’s important to have a manager or a coach who knows exactly what he needs to get more opportunities.
“Having Ruud van Nistlerooy will really help because I believe that he knows exactly what type of movement Hojlund needs and what type of positional sense he needs.
“So I think it's a clever move for Erik ten Hag, bringing in a coach that will have a better understanding of what Hojlund needs to do as a striker.
“If he manages to distribute this information the right way to the attacking midfielders and how to create those one-on-one opportunities, we will see immediate improvement in results.
“Last year there was so much frustration in terms of the body language of the players, I would go as far to say it was horrific. I’m a quiet guy but I would be going mad if I saw that type of thing, it doesn’t make sense for strikers.”
Q: What are your thoughts on Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United?
LS: “I have doubts about Matthijs de Ligt potentially going to Manchester United. He hasn’t played very well with Bayern Munich, but he is still a very experienced player.
“He has links to Erik ten Hag but you can’t keep going back to that connection. I’m a big fan of Leny Yoro at Lille and Jarrad Branthwaite at Everton, you need to look at the profile of the player to make sure it is the right signing.
“De Ligt has got the quality, but it will look a bit like a second choice in some way. That may be harsh but that’s how I see it. I can see why fans have doubts.”
Q: What would Joshua Zirkzee bring to Manchester United?
LS: “Joshua Zirkzee has an unpredictability that Manchester United need. He is tall bit he is very, very sharp and I have really liked what I’ve seen.
“He would provide something different to Rasmus Hojlund who needs help in his game, he hasn’t impressed me yet. Zirkzee can also provide competition and a new option for United as a target man.
“With Hojlund, you sense that there is a bit of frustration but there have been glimpses of his ability and his flair inside the box, it looks like sometimes he is working too hard which leaves him out of breath and unable to get far enough away from defenders.
“You need a strike to have that coolness to stay fresh and find space in key moments like Wanye Rooney and Robin van Persie could, guys that couldn’t be controlled by defenders.
“It looks like Hojlund is at times too close to defenders, he is under pressure and I don’t understand his movement. He needs to learn those things and there is no one better than Van Nistelrooy to help him solve it.”
Q: Which two players would you like to see Manchester United sign?
LS: “I’d really like to see Leny Yoro at Manchester United, he is a really good prospect. I think United would be a really good fit for him.
“My dream summer signing would be Victor Osimhen from Napoli, he would really fit the bill at Old Trafford, if I was them I’d be doing everything to try and get him from Napoli, I’d love to see him in a United shirt next season.
“His attitude, his work rate, he is so good in front of goal. He has a belief and confidence that reminds me of David Trezeguet or Ruud van Nistelrooy, strikers who attract the ball to their feet.
“Proper strikers are dying but it’s easy to see that Osimhen is one of them.”
Q: Should Manchester United push for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia this summer?
LS: “I really like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s style; he can play everywhere in the Premier League. They will all want to sign him, where he chooses to go will all be about style of play.
“For the problems that United have, Kvaratskhelia would fit the bill perfectly with his creativity and his workrate, he can play on both sides as well as number 10, he can do it all.
“I really like his energy and how good he looked with Georgia, he is an amazing player.
There are no clubs who will say no if they manage to get him. Yes, there is maybe a style of play that you can recognise in some teams.
“Whoever gets Kvaratskhelia will have an unbelievable player, he could provide a great balance at United with Bruno Fernandes in the middle.”
Q: Would Ivan Toney be a fantastic addition to Tottenham?
LS: “Ivan Toney would be fantastic for Tottenham because he’s more reliable than the players they have in that position. Toney and Heung Min-Son could form a great partnership under Ange Postecoglou.
“Richarlison can be a really good forward but he’s not a striker, he’s not someone who is going to score 15 or 20 goals a season, he’s dangerous but isn’t that type of player.
“Toney to Tottenham makes perfect sense, he’s the type of player who can work on his own or with a second striker.
Q: Would Ivan Toney be a good signing for Tottenham?
LS: “Because he can work in a partnership, that’s why Ivan Toney could even be a good option at Manchester United.
“I think he’s a very clever player and could work alongside Rasmus Hojlund, I like his style and he has that confidence that you really need to have when you play for big clubs.”
