THEY were booed by their own fans, the manager was pelted with beers and it was so boring that even Gary “Mr Nice” Lineker branded one of their group games rubbish.
However, if England upset the odds in Berlin tonight, there is good reason to argue that the Euros will never have had a more suitable winner.
Let’s face it, as the whole nation suddenly went football crazy and started singing Sweet Caroline again – thanks for that – this was a rubbish tournament.
The big guns didn’t turn up, the big names may well not have turned up and, with the exception of the first round of group games, big emotions were harder to find than a sober Scottish fan.
It was a month of yawning, not flattery. Of exasperation, not excitement. Four weeks of drinking and booing.
History will look back on the Euros being substandard. . . and when it comes to substandard standards, we are in a league of our own.
Initially, thanks to the scum that Harry Kane and company served in the stuttering group of bored to death.
However, the three qualifiers were not so much about lower standards as they were about the standard of the substitutes. The reason England reached the final – and why they can now win it!
Yes, Spain have been Germany’s best team, and young wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal are the standout stars.
But for everyone, from Yamal, aged 17 yesterday, to aging boss Dani Carvajal, aged 32, the Euros are four grueling weeks after a demanding season. Which obviously also applies to England.
This is why the strength of the bench was and will be so vital, perhaps even more so than the strength of the starting eleven.
An area where Spain doesn’t come close to matching the Three Lions. See what I mean about subpatterns. . . about where England have a clear and crucial advantage?
On why Southgate could very well be Sir Gareth soon?
If they attack the Senors tonight, the cries for an honor will be even louder than they were for his head. After all, it was Southgate who made the important decisions against Slovakia, Switzerland and then the Netherlands. All the substitutes who raised the standard.
Ivan Toney’s dramatic role in the great escape from the round of 16. Eberechi Eze and Luke Shaw saving the day against the Swiss. The semi-final heroics of Cole Palmer and match winner Ollie Watkins.
Southgate had the golden touch with his substitutes and it’s hard to give him a hard time about it. . . in fact, it’s hard to say he didn’t get them right.
But I’m going anyway.
For although England were heading home now without their substitutes – or finishers as they now are, apparently – do not consider this the work of tactical genius.
There was as much luck as judgment. There has been a lot of hesitation. They were made very late. They have been reactive, not proactive.
Toney was called on in the final minute against Slovakia. What should he do at that time? Even the player himself asked this in the post-game conference.
Eze, Shaw and Palmer changed the tone and pace in the fight against the Swiss. But again, only after England fell behind late in the day.
And although Watkins struck a last-gasp winner to beat the Dutch after Palmer’s pass, once again Southgate waited too long to turn to his bench.
Repeatedly he leaves Kane on when he’s up. Time and again he left Palmer kicking his heels despite impacting things whenever he appeared.
Southgate has escaped so far, but that won’t always be the case. As a coach, he needs to have the bottle to make changes early.
Using your strengths isn’t rocket science and for England that’s the bank – but only if you know how to exploit them.
So come on, Gareth, show us what you do!
Who knows, we might even relax in the final minutes. . . although I don’t hold my breath.
Read more articles by Phil Thomas
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
