England manager Gareth Southgate abandoned his usual quiet reserve and measured messages to confess that he had felt ‘like my stomach had been ripped’ by the final Euro 2020 loss to Italy at Wembley.
Southgate has known England’s adversity before as a player, missing the crucial penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final against Germany at Wembley, then as coach in the World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia in Moscow three years ago.
This felt more painful, closer to home. The missed opportunity to end 55 years without a major trophy, Southgate’s chance to join 1966 World Cup winner Sir Alf Ramsey as the only men to deliver such glory to the nation.
Falling short after surfing the wave of national euphoria only added to this acute sense of bitter disappointment.
Southgate, perfectly understandable, looked tense, tired and visibly dejected as he looked back on the pain of Wembley and towards the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The first is the first. Southgate’s record as England manager is second only to the legendary Ramsey, the taciturn mastermind who won the World Cup in 1966.
Two great tournaments have brought a semifinal and a final. Riches compared to the post-Ramsey past.
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In England’s life before Southgate, the previous two masterpieces brought a group stage outing in Brazil in 2014, then hit possibly the lowest point in national team history when England was humiliatingly eliminated from the Euro Cup. 2016 in the round of 16 for Iceland.
And when Southgate finally took the final step to become England’s coach in November 2016 after being in charge of the Under-21 national team, the team and the Football Association were thrown into chaos after the ‘blink and take it. you will lose »by Sam Allardyce. reign.
This is the context. This is where Southgate has led England and the rising graph of progress plus the quality of the players at his disposal offers hope for a bright future and aspirations for Qatar.
The England manager looked like the last few weeks and the final defeat had taken its toll when he held a press conference the morning after the night before and no wonder. He has taken so much pressure and responsibility on his shoulders, protecting and cajoling his players in a way that brings unwavering loyalty in return.
When he gathers his energies, Southgate can reflect that his England team is moving forward and can turn his attention to Qatar.
Southgate, and I would not expect less, should not be left out of the question and there are several issues worth examining after the loss to Italy 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
And a tweet from former England striker and BBC presenter Gary Lineker got to the heart of what Southgate must accomplish to give his team the latest push from brave losers to winners.
Lineker, who must be emphasized was fully supportive and rich in his praise for Southgate’s work, wrote: ‘I think, in the future, England has to find a way to be more offensively minded. Braver in possession and throw more people forward. We have the talent ahead of time to scare the teams, at present it seems that we ourselves are afraid to unleash that talent.
There was a sinister similarity between the defeat of Italy and the defeat of Croatia in Moscow, an early goal but then lost momentum, retreating to the shell, conservative, unable to gain possession.
‘Feels like my stomach has been ripped out’: Southgate speaks after Euro 2020 final defeat
Italy dominated 65% of possession at Wembley and, once their nerves calmed after an early onslaught from England, they were by far the most accomplished side, as befitting a side that are now 34 games unbeaten.
Southgate was also cautious with his substitutes, not using Jack Grealish until the 99th minute, when England clamored for a ball carrier to at least regain some initiative.
It exposed him to old charges of conservatism. The flip side is that their tried and trusted methods led England to the final after a gap of more than 20,000 days.
And there was the penalty shootout strategy, which consisted of shooting Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford with seconds to go, like a stone on a penalty shoot-out with just a touch of the ball and then both missing a penalty.
The team that attracted the most attention was Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, the 19-year-old who came of age at Euro 2020, taking the final penalty in the penalty shootout knowing that the hopes of a nation rested on its young people. shoulders.
Saka, who showed great courage to even take responsibility, saw her kick saved and many wondered why other senior colleagues did not step up. Throwing penalties in practice cannot replicate trying to triumph in one of England’s most crucial individual moments in 55 years.
Southgate insisted it was up to him. Laudable but a very high risk strategy that failed. Once again, in his defense, he got almost all of his decisions right before the final.
Risk is at the heart of how Southgate should move England forward now and brings us back to Lineker’s tweet.
England has laid the foundations to move on to the next phase of its development. Now Southgate must decide what adjustments he will make at his side to ensure that Sunday is the last of the glorious failures.
Southgate has been forced to use two containment midfielders, but could now consider, as Lineker suggests, leaving England out of control.
England have the perfect starting point in two top class forwards in Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling. The puzzle he must solve is how to get around the unstoppable appearance of Phil Foden from Manchester City, the creation of Grealish and the maturity of Mason Mount.
West Ham’s Declan Rice was England’s standout performer before taking a hit against Italy and Saka has shown his talent and character. Kalvin Phillips of Leeds United has made the transition from club football to international football with poise.
Add 21-year-old Sancho on the verge of completing a £ 73 million move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United and his Bundesliga teammate Jude Bellingham last season, an excellent talent beyond his years at just 18 , and Southgate has a lot to cheer you on when the Monday morning clouds lift.
England also have a great redemption story in Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw. Free from serious injuries and the cold hand of José Mourinho in his time at Old Trafford, he was simply magnificent at Euro 2020, the complete defense, creator and then scorer package.
Southgate has earned great respect. They have a young and unified squad that the English fans like as players and personalities. Now they must pass from sympathy to the victors.
The England manager will come out of this pain and cautious words about not wanting to “stay longer than welcome” in his role. No one has suggested that he got anywhere near that day.
Southgate and his players now face the task of completing the hardest jump of all – the last one to end England’s years of pain.
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