England are making up for a slow start to Euro 2024 - and Southgate deserves plaudits
England put in their best performance of Euro 2024 to book a place in the final — and Southgate showed plenty of his critics why he continues to be trusted with the job
England have made a bit of a thing out of scoring late at Euro 2024. Ollie Watkins 90th minute winner in the semi-final against the Netherlands was the third goal past 80 minutes, and the second in or after the 90th.
Gareth Southgate’s side have been slow to grow into this tournament, with some tedious displays at times. Jude Bellingham’s 95th-minute leveller in the last-16 clash against Slovakia has proven to be a defining moment, with a second consecutive European Championships Final booked in.
The quarter-final against Switzerland had a similar feel to it. A cagey affair that didn’t really get going until late in the second half, England did just enough and once again put to bed the hideous penalty hoodoo thanks to five perfect penalties and an important save from Jordan Pickford.
Southgate has been on the brunt of a lot of criticism, with one of the main being a tepid and dull approach to the game. We have done enough to get through each match, but the semi-final was a clear step up in performance from some of the other displays. On the front foot, whilst also being able to dictate play and not drain the life out of play, it was a show of confidence that England rightly came out on top.
The stats of what Southgate has achieved with England, short of winning trophies, means that in reality, he deserves far more credit than he has been given. England waited 54 years for a major final, and Southgate has led his country to two in three years. Add into this a World Cup semi-final and you suddenly have what can be described as progress, especially when you think back to the shambolic displays at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016.
For many England fans, this is the best we’ve ever had. I remember some dreadful displays in the 2010s, with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa also being disastrous. But Southgate has given many England fans our best moments following our country’s national side.
The run to the last four at the 2018 World Cup, followed by falling agonisingly close in the final of the covid-hit Euro 2020 tournament, were the most engaged and positive I think I’ve ever had as an England football fan. Southgate has benefited by having some brilliant players at his disposal, and whatever the outside noise is it's clear these footballers enjoy playing for him and believe in what he wants for the side- even if at times it can be tedious to watch.
Peaking at the right time is a key strategy in tournament football and if England’s performances continue on their upwards trajectory then the showcase at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium could be one for the ages. The countdown is on, and without sounding too dramatic, the nation is holding its breath.
Southgate’s substitutions in the Netherlands win were near perfect. Two of them combined for the winner, and each gave a different dimension to a side that was missing a clinical edge.
If we were to get the job done in Berlin on Sunday, it would be thanks to a culmination of years of hard work, some tough lessons learned, and a possible dream end to Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England boss.
