Post by bluetornados on Jun 11, 2024 8:05:53 GMT
'Euro 2024 feels like now or never for Southgate's England'..by Phil McNulty, Chief football writer.
i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/10/23/85948401-13515323-The_FA_are_yet_to_draw_up_a_shortlist_of_candidates_to_succeed_G-a-38_1718058380682.jpg
Gareth Southgate's England land in Germany to face the acid test that will either confirm them as the real deal or simply the nearly men who cannot get over the line when it matters.
Southgate's reign - whether it concludes at the end of their Euro 2024 campaign or stretches beyond - must always be viewed through the prism of the progress made in relation to the shambles he inherited.
Now 53, Southgate was handed the role permanently in November 2016 after the Football Association's 67-day and one-match dalliance with Sam Allardyce.
Allardyce had succeeded Roy Hodgson, who resigned following England's dismal last-16 exit to Iceland at the Euros in France.
Since then, Southgate has taken England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, the Euro 2020 final and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.
Friday's embarrassing Wembley defeat to Iceland, their famous conquerors at Euro 2016 who are now ranked only 72nd in the world, was hardly the fanfare farewell England wanted as they head off to Germany.
It left Southgate with plenty to ponder before Sunday's tournament opener against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen but should also be viewed in the wider context of it being a friendly before the serious business starts.
There is much to be optimistic about as England touch down and head to their base in Blankenhain.
Southgate has also brought about a sense of wellbeing inside England's squad, where players now enjoy representing their country without feeling dragged down by the weight of the shirt and expectation, as well as having generated a sense of goodwill towards the team and himself once more from outside.
Indeed, Southgate's reign has provided enough storylines for a West End Theatre production titled Dear England - the problem being there is no happy ending to this story either on stage or on the pitch.
i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/09/17/85900159-0-image-a-1_1717948859018.jpg
His record is better than anyone with the Three Lions since Sir Alf Ramsey, while Southgate will have managed England at more tournaments than both Sven-Goran Eriksson - who oversaw three quarter-final exits - and Roy Hodgson.
If England win in Germany - and what a chance they have - then Southgate must decide whether to go out on a high or have a third crack at the World Cup in 2026.
His side are regarded as favourites by many, even though their rating of fourth in the Fifa rankings means Belgium and France are ahead of them. A group containing Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia will not be taken lightly but holds no terrors.
If all goes to plan and England top the group, they could then face Italy in the last eight, France in the semi-final and potentially Spain in the final.
England, though, do have a squad capable of winning the trophy and that is why anything else will not be regarded as enough.
It is clear that Kane, Bellingham, Foden and others would sit easily in any of their continental rivals' teams.
England have a reliable, experienced goalkeeper in Jordan Pickford and a world-class centre-half, when fit, in Manchester City's John Stones.
Searching questions remain over left-back, central defence and who fits alongside Declan Rice in midfield, but elsewhere England do look the real deal - except they are not until they win something and that is the rub with Southgate and this team.
Will the disappointments of the past three major tournaments forge the mental steel powerful enough to see England crash through what has sometimes seemed like a psychological barrier at the big moments?
Or will old demons and memories resurface when it comes to the pressure points of Euro 2024?
The answer to these questions will shape so much about the immediate and long-term future for England and Southgate.
i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/03/11/84412575-13375513-image-a-1_1714732768783.jpg
i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/10/23/85948401-13515323-The_FA_are_yet_to_draw_up_a_shortlist_of_candidates_to_succeed_G-a-38_1718058380682.jpg
Gareth Southgate's England land in Germany to face the acid test that will either confirm them as the real deal or simply the nearly men who cannot get over the line when it matters.
Southgate's reign - whether it concludes at the end of their Euro 2024 campaign or stretches beyond - must always be viewed through the prism of the progress made in relation to the shambles he inherited.
Now 53, Southgate was handed the role permanently in November 2016 after the Football Association's 67-day and one-match dalliance with Sam Allardyce.
Allardyce had succeeded Roy Hodgson, who resigned following England's dismal last-16 exit to Iceland at the Euros in France.
Since then, Southgate has taken England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, the Euro 2020 final and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.
Friday's embarrassing Wembley defeat to Iceland, their famous conquerors at Euro 2016 who are now ranked only 72nd in the world, was hardly the fanfare farewell England wanted as they head off to Germany.
It left Southgate with plenty to ponder before Sunday's tournament opener against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen but should also be viewed in the wider context of it being a friendly before the serious business starts.
There is much to be optimistic about as England touch down and head to their base in Blankenhain.
Southgate has also brought about a sense of wellbeing inside England's squad, where players now enjoy representing their country without feeling dragged down by the weight of the shirt and expectation, as well as having generated a sense of goodwill towards the team and himself once more from outside.
Indeed, Southgate's reign has provided enough storylines for a West End Theatre production titled Dear England - the problem being there is no happy ending to this story either on stage or on the pitch.
i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/09/17/85900159-0-image-a-1_1717948859018.jpg
His record is better than anyone with the Three Lions since Sir Alf Ramsey, while Southgate will have managed England at more tournaments than both Sven-Goran Eriksson - who oversaw three quarter-final exits - and Roy Hodgson.
If England win in Germany - and what a chance they have - then Southgate must decide whether to go out on a high or have a third crack at the World Cup in 2026.
His side are regarded as favourites by many, even though their rating of fourth in the Fifa rankings means Belgium and France are ahead of them. A group containing Serbia, Denmark and Slovenia will not be taken lightly but holds no terrors.
If all goes to plan and England top the group, they could then face Italy in the last eight, France in the semi-final and potentially Spain in the final.
England, though, do have a squad capable of winning the trophy and that is why anything else will not be regarded as enough.
It is clear that Kane, Bellingham, Foden and others would sit easily in any of their continental rivals' teams.
England have a reliable, experienced goalkeeper in Jordan Pickford and a world-class centre-half, when fit, in Manchester City's John Stones.
Searching questions remain over left-back, central defence and who fits alongside Declan Rice in midfield, but elsewhere England do look the real deal - except they are not until they win something and that is the rub with Southgate and this team.
Will the disappointments of the past three major tournaments forge the mental steel powerful enough to see England crash through what has sometimes seemed like a psychological barrier at the big moments?
Or will old demons and memories resurface when it comes to the pressure points of Euro 2024?
The answer to these questions will shape so much about the immediate and long-term future for England and Southgate.
i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/03/11/84412575-13375513-image-a-1_1714732768783.jpg
