After yet another dose of Euros final heartbreak for England, Gareth Southgate has resigned as manager.
Southgate has been manager of England at a time where the overall quality of international football is not as high as it was in the past
On paper, Southgate – who led England to two Euro finals and a World Cup semi-final – has done far better than many of his predecessors. One of his vital contributions was successfully managing to move the English national team away from the paralysing culture of club tribalism that defined the so-called Golden Generation of the 2000s. Southgate also naturally understood how the national football team can be an incredible source of togetherness; a force for social unity. He has openly expressed his pride in the fact that the young players he has introduced to the England senior set-up collectively embody modern Britain – which, for its flaws, is a relatively successful example of a multi-racial democracy. Southgate, who clearly values a traditional and stable family life, has never embarrassed his country – which can’t be said for many others who have been in positions of national leadership.
But the reality is that Southgate’s traditionalism proved to be his undoing – adopting an overly cautious tactical approach and being hyper-loyal to certain players who simply didn’t deliver the goods. He has had an embarrassment of energetic attacking riches at his disposal, yet a lethargic Harry Kane started as a lone striker throughout the tournament. He was Southgate’s captain and part of his so-called ‘leadership group’, but sometimes a degree of ruthlessness is required to be a truly world-class manager, and Southgate lacks that. It is criminal that Ollie Watkins – who fired England into the final with a clinical late winner against the Netherlands – only spent a total of 38 minutes on the pitch this tournament.
Another player who was ‘overplayed’ was Kieran Trippier, one of Southgate’s ‘favourites’ who was shoved into the first XI for most of the tournament in an unnatural left-back position. With Luke Shaw unable to play until the later knockout games, Southgate made a mistake by not taking another left-footed full-back to Germany – perhaps Tyrick Mitchell, who has made 108 Premier League appearances for Crystal Palace in the past three seasons. But arguably the gravest injustice was the fact that a woefully underperforming Phil Foden played more than ten hours of football, while Cole Palmer played just over two.
The reality is that Southgate has been manager of England at a time where the overall quality of international football is not as high as it was in the past. Some of his predecessors were in charge during the Brazilian period of excellence between 1994 and 2002; the France team which won both the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000; and the Spain side of 2008 to 2012 that won three major international tournaments on the trot. These periods covered genuine legends of the game – the likes of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zidane, Henry, Xavi, and Iniesta. Compared to other national managers, Southgate had one of the finest pools of players to select from in the world. There have been moments that his conservatism held him back when England were very much on the front foot – such as the Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley. Spain were the best team in this tournament and deserved winners, but some will be left wondering how the final would have panned out if the pacy Watkins and classy Palmer had been in the starting XI.
Putting aside the ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’, Southgate should be thanked for his service. But if England wish to maximise the potential of a hugely talented crop of young players, they will need someone more adventurous and ruthless with a strong managerial track record.
There is a certain German who fits the bill who might enjoy taking on the challenge.
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