There has been a lot of talk about the if's and but's and maybe's of England's performances in the Euros. Beaten finalists, yes, but it could have been so much more?
Possibly, but let us acknowledge what Southgate has achieved first. He has restored pride in the England football team. He has brought England back onto the world stage by making them hard to beat. He has a system which suits the players and there is a genuine cameraderie in the camp which bodes well for the future. Most importantly, England competed with a decent Italian outfit for 120 minutes. And we would be having a very different conversation but for three penalty kicks in a shoot-out, against a team that had already come through a penalty shootout. The odds were always in Italy's favour.
There are justifiable questions about Southgate's conservative approach, particularly when you look at the quality on the bench. Surely Foden, Calvert-Lewin or Grealish should have started ahead of Sako every time? Should Henderson have featured more than he did? But Southgate is the one who saw the players day after day, and assessed the best team for the conditions. He got it right every time, as far as what happened during play.
The window of international football is a lot narrower than that of league and that makes it a much more intense experience, for coaches, players and supporters. For one month every couple of years, it is all we live and breathe. It takes a huge amount of luck, as well as skill, to get it right for seven games in a row. England knocked off the German hoodoo and advanced one step further than they had done in previous tournaments. This young team have played in a final and will be closer to peak in the next one, while Italy will have to replace some of their stars. This is progress. Not as fast as fans want, but definitely progress.
Can Southgate take England further? The World Cup is 18 months away in Qatar. This is a big step towards reclaiming that crown. If England lift that trophy, no-one will care about what happened against Italy.
The Italian Job
posted on 13/7/21
Who is Sako?
posted on 13/7/21
Bakary?
posted on 13/7/21
comment by Cinciwolf----Saka didn't deserve that (U11551)
posted 1 hour, 1 minute ago
After back to back semis at major tournaments you can pretty much guarantee they won't make it three in a row, very few sides ever have. On the bright side Englands dull one paced style will be suited to the Qatar heat.
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There is also the advantage of playing during the winter where many countries have winter breaks - however a lot of players for major countries do play in the PL.
posted on 13/7/21
The same folk who are moaning about not making changes are the same folk who'd be moaning if we lost had changes been made. Fact is we lost on penalties.
We cocked up with the pens but i assume Southgate watches them in training and made the decision based on that.
I prefer watching Leeds but you cant argue that we have done well in the last two tournaments.
You learn from your mistakes, he deserves to manage them at the next world cup.
posted on 13/7/21
England barely scraped though beating Denmark, and if they had beaten Italy on the penalty shootout, they certainly would not have deserved it on the day - the best team won. Southgate needs replacing full stop...tired of his overcautious goody 2 shoe attitude.
posted on 13/7/21
comment by Neo (U9135)
posted 4 hours, 37 minutes ago
Don't see us going far in Qatar personally. Boiling hot weather and inability to keep the ball against the better sides will cost us. Unlikely to get a lucky draw for the third time in a row as well.
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Average high in Doha in December is 24C. Get yourself another excuse.
posted on 13/7/21
comment by Sgt Wilko 92 (U5983)
posted 8 hours, 5 minutes ago
comment by All the Bielsa ringing (U19827)
posted 18 minutes ago
comment by HarlequinHebdo (U16981)
posted 1 minute ago
So,...............
it's ENGLAND for the World Cup then ! ok>
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You heard it first here, Hebdo, and you heard it from an Irishman
I just like the way Southgate goes about his business.
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I've made a note in my diary to troll you both when it goes t**s up in Qatar.
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I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Sarge
posted on 14/7/21
Definite progress! The conservative approach isn't always the best to watch, but makes you hard to beat, which is important when you don't have the most technically talented team in the tournament (which, let's be honest, we don't).
As we've experienced with Bielsa...it's become apparent to me how important the feeling of pride in the team is, beyond the results. The way the team and manager conducted themselves throughout was fantastic (IMO). Very narrowly missed out on winning the thing, but they should feel very proud of how they played and how they conducted themselves as a team. Shame the same can't realy be said for some of the fans.
posted on 14/7/21
Its odd saying the heat would effect anyone, surely every player that are there would be playing in the same heat, which it seems would be less than most places at this moment in time!..
As for the England squad, like the rest they can only play whos put in front off them, they are a very young team so they've a bit off time to work with Southgate and work out where they can improve!..
If they'd played the whole game as they did the first half hour or so they could well be Champions now!..
Loosing on penalties is hell for anyone, but its not the first time and wont be the last it happens!..
Shame England seems to be the worst at them!..
posted on 16/7/21
I believe Southgate is entitled to take a lot of credit for getting England to the final (though not all – the players slightly played a part), but he also has to take some of the blame for the penalty-taking that ultimately lost us the final. Largely choosing players who were relatively inexperienced and who had barely kicked a ball in the match is poor decision making by any standards. I know this is all hindsight and that if we had won, he'd be lauded as a tactical genius; but we lost, and therefore he was proven wrong in his decisions.