I’m pleased for Southgate, he did his best, his way of playing isn’t for everyone, in fact very few, myself included in that.
He did, however, manage to reach 2 Euro Finals, a WC Semi Final & WC 1/4 Finals.
You can say that the runs were easy for us, people forget Belgium & France didn’t win their group, if they had, they would have been in our half of the draw.
Germany weren’t far from finishing second in their group, grabbing a late equaliser against Switzerland, who then went on to knock out Italy. So lucky, yes, but you can only beat the team in front of you, if that’s extra time or penalties then so be it.
Did France play brilliantly to get to the semi finals? 1 French player scored a penalty, supposedly one of the best in the World.
We can go on about Southgate’s negative play forever, can also go back to the 2000’s with Sven & Capello with the “Golden Generation,” replies to that is, “yeah, but we had tougher opponents!”
Well **** me, the “best” team in the world couldn’t beat tougher opponents, so they wanted an easier route, but didn’t get it. Boo ****ing hoo!
So next manager comes in & we don’t get anywhere, “because we had tougher opposition,” it’s like going round in circles.
Damned if you succeed in reaching a Final & losing to a top team & damned if you don’t hammer the smaller nations 5-0.
People forget that these players are playing in top leagues across Europe.
Forget looking back to the days of England going to Turkey & putting 5 passed them & the return match at Wembley being 8-0 to qualify for WC ‘90 or whichever one it was.
That’s not happening anymore!
Wake up & realise that Football teams have become closer together.
Yes there’s still the Gibraltar’s, Armenia’s etc that are going to play N.Ireland & Scotland & give them a scare, but at some point, San Marino might get a few players together & shock someone.
WC ‘94, Bulgaria & Romania were outstanding, Stoichcov & Hagi, but they haven’t carried on in the same way since then.
England have done more in the last 4 tournaments than they’ve done in the best part of the last 60 years!