Euro 2024 Diary: We Need to Talk About Gareth
Southgate looked all played out during his post-match presser I attended in Cologne but there are reasons to be cheerful as Slovakia loom this weekend
Hello, Happy Thursday,
And so it came to pass that Georgia - in one of the greatest shocks of this tournament’s history - beat Portugal 2-0 on Wednesday evening, to ensure England, This England, will now play Slovakia in the round of 16 this weekend. Instead of The Netherlands.
Of course, given England’s travails during this tournament so far, nothing can be taken for granted with Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions.
Gareth Southgate pictured during his post-match press conference after England’s underwhelming goalless draw against Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday. CREDIT:
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We Need to Talk About Gareth
I’ve been thinking about Gareth this week, well, even more than normal this month.
In particular, after having a ringside seat in observing him up close, when I attended his post-match press conference after the disappointing goalless draw against Slovenia in Cologne on Tuesday.
At midnight, following a swelteringly hot day, in the airless, sweaty press room in Cologne’s Stadium, nestled in Mungersdorf Park, a thoroughly decent man looked shattered.
Southgate looked tired. He looked harried and haggard. And slightly shellshocked at having just had at least three empty plastic beer cups thrown at him by frustrated England fans, not to mention being on the receiving end of boos from a section of the support.
He looked all played out.
We were watching the public thought-processes of an emotionally intelligent, empathetic, socially aware, thoroughly decent man, in dealing with the fact he had now become a divisive figure.
His nervous ticks amplified by the relentless pressure, Southgate looked slightly broken at the dawning realisation that he had now become a target for public vitriol.
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An increasingly-beleagured Gareth Southgate speaking during his post-match press conference after England’s goalless draw against Slovenia. CREDIT:
Sometimes in press conferences there is a disconnect between the words spoken, and the meaning of what is said.
You’ll know what I mean.
Managers of lowly sides talk up their team when faced with a big clash at a Premier League giant, when you know full well that they really don’t believe they’ll get a result.
Or, the flip side of that, is when coaches ‘big up’ poor quality opponents, who, they know full well, they’ll beat easily.
That’s ok. That’s fine. It’s a respectful way to deal with your next opponent, big or small. It’s humble and honourable, even if they, and we - as journalists, or fans - don’t fully believe what they’re saying.
But watching Southgate, a tired-looking, worn out, all played out, Southgate on Tuesday evening, his words resonated - because they were from the heart.
Talking about the toxic fallout, he tried to use the issue to deflect criticism from the players.
Speaking in that press-conference, after such a disappointing match, a drained looking Southgate admitted: “I understand it [the vitriol] but I’m not going to back away from it. The most important thing is that we stay with the team.
“I understand the narrative towards me. That’s better for the team than it being towards them, but it is creating an unusual environment to operate in.
“I’ve not seen any other team qualify and receive similar [treatment]. I’m not going to back away from it.”
He meant what he said.
Because Southgate is a far tougher character than many give him credit for. You have to be, in order to do the Impossible Job.
But the fact Southgate now knew he had become ‘the problem’ was telling.
His innate cautiousness was coming back to haunt him.
With such a talented side, people expected more, and questions had to be asked why more fluid performances have not been attained during this tournament in Germany so far.
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Hey Gareth, where’s Jude
One major example is the deeply frustrating fact that Southgate has failed to utilise La Liga and Champions League winner, Jude Bellingham.
The player’s ill-defined role, and the failure to click with striker Harry Kane - in both the Slovenia and Denmark games they exchanged precisely one pass per game - has been starkly evident.
Bellingham is already world class at 20 years of age, but at various points during this tournament, he’s been found roaming ahead of Kane, while also dropping deep, so deep at one stage, he’s even picked up the ball behind right-footed left-back Kieran Trippier - and Southgate simply can’t coach Bellingham into the correct positions he should be taking.
It doesn’t make Southgate a bad man. Far from it. It simply means he is just not good enough at being a proactive, tactically astute, front foot, top quality manager.
There are a raft of other instances - I’m sure you’ll have your own - not least when failing to get the best out of Phil Foden, or the curious case of not picking the in-form and confident trickster Cole Palmer, to name but two.
The magnificent England support in Cologne. CREDIT:
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Reasons to be cheerful
And yet.
England qualified unbeaten at the top of Group C - more than France, Italy, Belgium and The Netherlands did in their respective groups.
Southgate’s side is now gearing up to face Slovakia in the knock-out stages, hoping to build on the traces of momentum the team showed during the second half against Slovenia, especially when Palmer, and Anthony Gordon came on to inject a spot of verve, trickery and creativity - not to mention confidence.
Other reasons to be cheerful include the prospect of having a genuine left-back return to give the side more balance. I was at Wembley when Luke Shaw scored in the second minute in the Euro 2020 final against Italy and the Manchester United player offers so much more than simply defensive solidity.
If he does return, the memories of him hobbling off at Kenilworth Road when I covered United’s 2-1 victory over Luton Town on a cold February afternoon earlier this year will be banished in favour of anticipation at the thought of the redoubtable Shaw’s comeback to further boost England’s chances.
Kobbie Mainoo is another player who gives hope.
Yes, his partnership with Declan Rice didn’t work during England’s dismal 1-0 defeat against Iceland at Wembley last month. But after dispensing with Trent Alexander Arnold in midfield, as well as Conor Gallagher, Southgate has returned to United’s teenage talent in the second half again Slovenia. And it seemed to work. Which augurs well for Slovakia. Perhaps even in a 4-3-3 as opposed to a 4-2-3-1 with Rice as a No6 and Mainoo as an No8.
Defensively I have been very impressed with Marc Guehi, alongside the class act that is John Stones. And Jordan Pickford is a top quality, hugely experienced tournament keeper.
Beat Slovakia and it’s Italy or Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
And then it’s Up for Grabs.
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While waiting at a surprisingly busy Dusseldorf Haubanhhof for the 2am train back to my base in Cologne, after covering Albania vs Spain on Monday evening, I messaged a pal who was awake due to his young toddlers.
“I feel we’re due a big performance from this team. I just don’t think we’ll get it against Slovenia.’
Will we get it against Slovakia?
Let’s hope so, because if not, then Southgate will have managed his final game as England boss.
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Daily List:
Apply through the UEFA portal - which sounds like an entrance to another world, which, to be fair, it invariably feels like it is, when dealing with European football’s administrators - for three games in the Round of 16.
Whether I get accredited for the knock-out stages is anyone’s guess, given the vagaries of the inner working of UEFA, but I’ve applied for accreditation for England vs Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen this Sunday (obviously), as well as France vs Belgium on Monday in Dusseldorf on Monday, and Austria vs Turkey in Leipzig on Tuesday.
Watch this space.
PS:
I’m doing a ‘Phil Foden’ and heading back to the UK for ‘personal reasons’ to keep a special promise I made to my youngest daughter before the tournament started.
Read tomorrow’s update for more.