England fans owe Gareth Southgate an apology
Just over a year ago, England were penalty kicks away from winning their first major tournament since 1966, and yet there was nothing but doom and gloom in the build-up to this World Cup under the ‘incompetent ’Gareth Southgate.
Those doubters amongst the England fans should apologise.
England fans work only in extremes. It’s either ‘coming home ’and the team is prodigious, or the team is a disgrace and needs tearing apart. There is no in-between.
Managers are often hyperbolically praised when things go right and become the fall guys when things go wrong. Yet despite turning a biyearly cesspit of underachievement into the best England team of the past few decades, Gareth Southgate has not been given the praise he deserves from England fans.
Built on an attitude of star power mixed with arrogance, previous England teams tipped for glory have fallen well short of their potential.
Many a manager has come before Southgate and failed. Eriksson, Capello, Hodgson, to name just. None of the aforementioned achieved what Southgate did in his first World Cup: a semi-final appearance at a major tournament.
Indeed, 2018 was only England’s third appearance in a major tournament semi-final since winning the world cup back in ’66 and their first in a World Cup for 28 years.
Throw the spanner of a worldwide pandemic into the works and even that could not halt the progress of Southgate’s England side.
They built on the success of Russia 2018 at Euro 2020, disposing of rivals Germany on their way to their first major final in 45 years.
Keep in mind the Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy was not a hammering, or an embarrassment, but rather a flip-of-a-coin penalty shootout.
Southgate and his players tore down the psychological barriers in his first three years, reconnecting a team with the nation.
Southgate had already achieved what countless, seemingly more qualified managers had failed to do. He had built an England team more than capable of winning a major tournament.
Not only has Southgate formed a team unlike any other that England fans have seen in decades, but he has helped his squad and guided them in using their position of power to highlight worthy political causes.
After he was hurried into the managerial position following the disgraceful exit of Sam Allardyce (remember him?), the soft-spoken and cerebral Southgate was a role model for a team taking a stand against racist abuse.
Following such abuse of England players during a game in Bulgaria in a Euro 2020 qualification tie, Southgate was brave. At a time in which the country was as divided as ever, he committed to a strong, unified message of the England team taking the knee.
He knew this would alienate some England fans. His response: “I am comfortable with that”.
England players were booed by a large number of their own fans as they took the knee in their opening game of Euro 2020. Southgate and his team did not let this waiver their support for the cause, and a year later in their opening game of this World Cup in Qatar, they kneeled again.
Southgate could have taken the easy route and ducked all of the controversy, but instead he and his team stood for what they believed in, and that is something that deserves praise.
Some fans called for Southgate to be sacked prior to the tournament due to poor Nations League form. You know, the prestigious Nations League which is essentially glorified friendlies?
Yes, England did badly and got relegated from their division. So what? Discarding the optimism built from two successful tournaments over a new competition based on ultimately meaningless games is unfair on both Southgate and his players.
France won only one game in the same tournament and yet have been arguably the most impressive team at this World Cup. Italy won their Nations League group and didn’t even qualify for the World Cup.
It is time to forget this nonsensical faux-outrage over a competition few international fans or players care about.
Since the pandemic Southgate has used these games to integrate a young crop of stars into his team and is now reaping the results. Bellingham, Saka and Foden have been electric in Qatar, and a rejuvenated Marcus Rashford has no doubt been helped immensely by his national team coach.
Previews to this world cup painted it as Southgate’s last dance. If England want to slide back into their customary position of underachievement at major tournaments, then letting Southgate walk would be a great place to start.
Don’t forget Sean Dyche is available!
