How did we go from fans adopting Gareth Southgate’s vests to plastic beer cups being thrown in his direction?
To sing”South gate Are you the only one” to be turned off by him?
The relationship between the English faithful and their coach became tense to the point of breaking down during these Euros.
“We’ve had a number of issues to sort out as a team over the last few weeks,” Southgate said.
“And I’m the leader trying to connect all of this and keep the juggernaut that is the England football team on the right track.”
But it will be the end of the road for Southgate and England on Sunday night if England are knocked out of Euro 2024 by Slovakia.
A 99th game after eight transformative but ultimately trophyless years at the helm. Until here.
‘Ultimate Challenge’
“Every day I wake up and think about what we need to do,” he said. “It’s the ultimate challenge.”
They reached the tournament – unlike Steve McClaren’s England in 2008 – and didn’t return home in the group stage – as Roy Hodgson’s England did without winning a game at the 2014 World Cup.
Southgate made fans – and even many players – fall in love with the England team again.
It’s the way to get to the last 16 here, with just one win and two dismal draws fueling discontent.
Southgate: ‘Irrelevant’ what fans think of me
There is certainly a lack of perspective. How often do England enjoy themselves in the group stage? Even the 1966 World Cup victory began with dropped points early on.
The reduced risk in this 24-team Euro format gives a strong certainty of progressing to the knockout stage where the tournament begins.
To remember, Spain they were the only team to qualify from the group with three wins.
The last two trophy winners – Portugal It is Italy – both games lost. Even hosts Germany lost points.
Italy, who have beaten England in the last three years, were the first team to be eliminated in the round of 16.
‘Desperate to do well’
Southgate has become increasingly exacerbated by clashes in sessions with the media, although he has been careful to avoid widening the rift with his supporters.
Groans after the tepid 0-0 draw with Slovenia prompted Southgate to say: “I’ve never seen any other team qualify and receive anything like that.”
This is the closest we’ve seen to the 53-year-old snap.
It may seem like he would love the opportunity to say: be careful what you wish for. Don’t you have a short memory?
The Three Lions are hoping for a result on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Go back six years and Southgate will be credited with re-energizing the team and reconnecting them with fans at the 2018 World Cup.
There were murmurs of frustration as England could not find a way to overcome Croatia to reach the World Cup final. But at least they reached the first men’s semi-final since Euro 96 and won the penalty shootout on the way Russia.
This was Southgate’s summer, lifting the nation’s spirits, as a unifying figure for a country divided by Brexit division.
“I’m desperate to do good for my country,” Southgate said, remembering the pain and near-misses as an England defender.
The modesty, humility and decency that Southgate brought to the job made him the perfect antidote to the turmoil.
Remember, he was the accidental manager who never sought that status.
Bold calls
Think of Euro 2016, the humiliating round of 16 exit to Iceland and Roy Hodgson’s complaint after being forced to face the media in his final act as manager: “I don’t know why I’m here.”
This was the lowest point for England.
At that time, Southgate was in the tournament as UEFA technical observer.
But on the last day of Euro 2016 he spoke to the then-FAN boss in a Paris hotel before rejecting the chance to step down as Under-21 coach, believing he lacked experience for the senior role.
How many others would be so self-deprecating when given the opportunity of a lifetime?
Captain Harry Kane backed his manager. Photo: PA
The job came unexpectedly quickly thanks to Sam Allardyce’s unprotected bar chat with undercover reporters – ending his reign in a match with a 100% record by defeating Slovakia.
This brings England full circle to face Slovakia again on Sunday night in Gelsenkirchen, with a Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland up for grabs.
“We still sing about him,” said Brad Day, a 34-year-old fan, in a Cologne bar. “We had the best six years of English football I can remember.”
Luke Buxton, who came from Barnsley to watch all of England’s games in Germany, feels England fell short.
“I think he’s underrated,” he said. “But I can see why people are upset because you have so much attacking talent, so much skill across the squad, you look at what the players are doing for their clubs and it is fair to question why they are not replicating that at an international level. .”
As national team coach, Southgate has little time to influence players tactically throughout the year.
The task is to bring together the best available talent into a team and meet bold selection decisions.
But despite the tiredness, Harry Kane It is Jude Bellingham They appear invincible given their potential to provide the scoring spark needed.
Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden from England. Photo: PA
‘You shouldn’t be afraid of losing’
Can Southgate find solutions?
For some, he is not charismatic enough and is very boring. The source of social media derision and mocking memes.
What were endearing features when results were in the offing – fans adopting Southgate vests at the 2018 World Cup – are now used against him for reflecting a style of football seen as too unambitious.
I just didn’t dare enough. Not taking enough risks.
Being a scholar today is seen as boring.
But he tried to show that this shouldn’t be the “Impossible Job”. It is something that predecessors considered to carry as much pressure as leading the country.
In a week where there could be a change of Prime Ministers, Southgate hopes his reign continues until the final of Berlin on July 14th.
See more information:
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“We shouldn’t be afraid of losing,” he said.
But for the manager whose love letter to fans was turned into the West End play Dear England, he is preparing to say Goodbye England.
It could still end in a parade of trophies.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
