Gareth Southgate’s England Team Triumphs: Fans Underrate His AccomplishmentsGareth Southgate’s England Team Triumphs: Fans Underrate His Accomplishments Despite England’s recent success in Euro 2024, reaching the semi-finals, some fans have criticized manager Gareth Southgate for his pragmatic approach to the game. However, Southgate’s track record suggests that he deserves more credit than he receives. After a tense penalty shootout victory over Switzerland, Southgate celebrated with his players, a moment that seemed to defy the criticism he had faced. Southgate admitted that the personal attacks had taken a toll on him. “Every now and then you think, ‘There must be some enjoyment in this job?’ So if I can’t enjoy that moment then I think it’s a waste of time,” Southgate said. Under Southgate’s leadership, England has consistently performed well in major tournaments. They have reached the semi-finals of three out of four major tournaments he has managed. No other English manager has achieved such consistency. Fans have complained about Southgate’s cautious style of play, but he argues that his team is “street-smart” and knows how to win. He cited England’s past failures in tournaments as evidence that they needed to change their approach. “England had a habit of starting well but failing to finish the game,” Southgate said. “We’re showing a bit more of that streetwise nature.” Southgate’s methods have paid off, and England is now one match away from reaching the Euro 2024 final. His accomplishments should not be forgotten, even if his team’s style of play is not always entertaining.
England are in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. Some fans will not give manager Gareth Southgate enough credit.
After beating Switzerland on penalties in the quarter-finals of the European Championship on Saturday, Southgate celebrated in front of a crowd of England fans, his players dancing in a line behind him.
It felt like a response to his opponents, some of whom were throwing plastic beer cups at him less than two weeks ago.
Southgate admitted that the criticism he faced about England’s pragmatic, cautious style of play – he calls his team “street-smart” – hurt him.
“Every now and then you think, ‘There must be some enjoyment in this job?’ So if I can’t enjoy that moment then I think it’s a waste of time. I love the players, I love being in that moment with them,” Southgate said.
“I can’t deny that when it’s as personal as it has been in the last few weeks, it’s quite difficult on a human level, but we’re fighting. We’re not going to stop fighting.”
England have reached the semi-finals of three of the four major tournaments during Southgate’s eight-year tenure.
No other English manager in history has achieved such consistent success, despite the team never winning a title.
England celebrates defeating Switzerland on penalties to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024. | Photo: AFP
Fans have increasingly expressed dissatisfaction with Southgate’s cautious instincts and the team’s rarely entertaining style of play, especially at Euro 2024. Of England’s five matches, Southgate’s team have won inside 90 minutes just once, the opening 1-0 defeat to Serbia.
Too often in the past, England have started well but failed to finish the game, Southgate argued. “We weren’t smart, we weren’t tournament-wise,” he said.
That is something he has been trying to change since taking charge in 2016, when England had just been knocked out of the European Championship by Iceland under Roy Hodgson.
“The games that we ended up going out of (tournaments), people can always look back and highlight things. But overall we showed the resilience that the teams that win tournaments have had for years and years. Italy, France, Spain,” he added.
“It’s not all pure football. It’s other qualities that they’ve had, and we’re showing a bit more of that streetwise nature.”
