It’s time for Gareth Southgate to go

Get Miguel Delaney's Reading The Game Newsletter For Free!

Get Miguel Delaney's Weekly Newsletter For Free

Gareth Southgate is currently pondering his next steps, but it seems like he's leaning towards leaving. Initially, it was uncertain whether he would stay or go before the Euro 2024 final, but the team's journey to Berlin seems to have swayed his decision. Now, there is a somber atmosphere surrounding his future plans.

One reason for Southgate's decision to remain as coach after the 2022 World Cup was the overall feeling within the team, despite the disappointing loss to Spain. Southgate believed that the team was in a good position, with the quarter-final elimination not seen as a significant setback. The close defeat to France also contributed to a positive atmosphere surrounding Southgate.

Currently, things are completely different for him. He has mentioned multiple times how fans have shown disapproval and thrown beer cups at him. His desire to criticize Southgate - claiming his skills are being questioned excessively - has been part of the ongoing discussion among sports commentators. This escalated during Euro 2024. Southgate is reportedly frustrated with the amount of criticism he has received from pundits who he is personally acquainted with.

Once more, a lot of this is simply the chaotic atmosphere that comes with England and the high stakes of a global competition.

Some of it, sadly, is also valid.

It's hard not to keep thinking about a comment made by people in the team before the tournament started. They said, "Gareth is talented in everything, except playing football."

The final match of Euro 2024 made this very clear, showing that the Spanish team, which some may argue had a weaker lineup, was able to win by having a smarter strategy for the game. The prevailing opinion among the winning team is that Southgate has not been effectively utilizing the skills of his players. They believe that although he has talented individuals on his team, they are being used in a defensive way instead of being proactive.

That's why this tournament seems to be his most successful in terms of results - reaching the final in a different country - but with the least positive aspects. England are expected to reach this stage at this point. However, instead of taking that final step, the team fell into familiar traps but with some new challenges.

England once more suffered a defeat when they faced a strong opponent. Their lack of understanding of the game again led to their loss.

Just like Southgate has two different aspects to his personality, this discussion also has two different viewpoints. It's not about his overall management skills, but rather the specific details at the end.

As people look back on Southgate's time as England manager, it is important to recognize that he played a crucial role in getting the team to where they are now. He will go down in history as a significant figure in English football, making a positive impact. Although the team may have eventually benefited from the emerging talent due to infrastructure changes, that wasn't the case in 2018. The team's success in reaching the semi-finals was thanks to smart management and making the most of their opportunities in the tournament. Paying attention to the small details was key in their achievements.

This aligned with Southgate's overall goal of transforming the team's culture, and it was incredibly successful. The players began eagerly anticipating their time in camp and upcoming tournaments. They all developed a strong personal connection with him. Southgate's kind demeanor played a role, but it was more than that. He gained the respect and loyalty of many players by actively supporting them on important issues, such as their decision to take the knee.

That's why Southgate continued to choose players like Kieran Trippier and Harry Kane as his trusted allies, even though some may have questioned their impact on the game. The belief within the team was that they had a positive influence on the dynamics and unity of the squad.

All of this built up a strong determination that proved crucial in numerous competitions, most notably Euro 2024. This determination played a key role in England reaching the final. Past teams may have given in, especially in the face of challenging matches surrounded by a lot of pressure. England almost faced a disastrous defeat against Slovakia, similar to the one they suffered against Iceland. However, they managed to overcome these obstacles thanks to a deeper strength within the team.

It helped them overcome many challenges. However, there was one problem that they couldn't solve, especially when faced with strong resistance.

By imposing a strict tactical plan on his team, Southgate faced his own limitations. Other top teams may privately criticize him for not having a deeper understanding of tactics.

It turned into a game of tactics. The most notable was the high-pressure strategy, which resulted in many unexciting England matches. The coaching staff were so tied to their system, and so cautious, that it meant one player was always limited in how they could use the approach like the top teams. It influenced all of their games in a negative way. You just need to compare it to how Spain relentlessly chased England all over the field in the end. Southgate pointed out England's backward throw-in near Unai Simon's goal after Cole Palmer's goal as a turning point, but that was directly attributed to the different pressing styles of the two teams. England were forced back towards their own goal. Spain always had the courage to play through it.

Southgate's England lacked foresight, so we may never see a photo of him with a champion's medal.

This conversation would have been completely different if Southgate's improved penalty approach had been used in the Euro 2020 final against Italy. But even in that defeat, the same issues were prevalent. England struggled to maintain their lead and failed to control the game.

This loss will surely sting for England and continue to be on their minds, as Declan Rice mentioned. Despite having everything in their favor - playing at Wembley and scoring an early goal - they still ended up losing. It was clear that Spain was the superior team in this match.

It might still be frustrating that while Southgate has been working to bring England closer to victory, other well-known teams have managed to win trophies once again. Spain is just the latest example. England's streak of 58 years without winning a major trophy is now unmatched in the world of football.

It seemed like the end was near in Berlin just minutes ago, but now it feels like a distant memory. Spain was playing in a whole different league, it was obvious.

England entered the tournament in a disorganized manner and exited even more disoriented. It seemed like Southgate was improvising as he made constant changes to the team and personnel. The offensive strategy failed to produce results. In one memorable moment, Jude Bellingham criticized his teammates for their lack of effort. Despite having a talented star player leading the attack, it never seemed to flow smoothly.

This year is unlike 2018 and Euro 2020, where everything was clear. It seems like a strong indication that it might be time for Southgate to step down, as he has reached a barrier and is struggling to find a solution. This uncertainty is a common indicator of that.

Maybe we need a coach with a more forward-thinking approach to add the finishing touches, someone who can come in and understand the entire situation.

It's important to remember that whoever comes after Southgate will be continuing the work he started. That might be all there is to it.

He has brought back respect to England, but he still hasn't brought them victory. It's hard to picture England without Southgate now. It's even more difficult to picture his football team winning the trophy that they have the talent for.