England is on its way to the Euro 2024 semifinals, but the journey has been met with mixed emotions, particularly for manager Gareth Southgate. Following their penalty shootout victory over Switzerland in the quarterfinals, Southgate and his team celebrated in front of a roaring crowd, seemingly silencing some of his critics. Southgate has faced intense criticism for England’s pragmatic, often cautious, style of play, with some fans even throwing plastic cups at him during recent matches.
Despite the negativity, Southgate stands firm in his approach, emphasizing the importance of resilience and tournament experience. He admitted that the personal criticism has been difficult, but he remains committed to his team, highlighting their ability to perform under pressure.
Southgate’s approach has been the subject of much debate, with fans and pundits expressing their dissatisfaction with the lack of entertaining football. England’s record in the tournament reflects this: they have only secured one win in 90 minutes out of their five games, a 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opening match.
However, Southgate argues that this approach is a necessary evolution for England, who in the past have often struggled to maintain momentum and finish games strongly. He pointed to Italy, France, and Spain as examples of teams who have successfully employed a similar style to achieve success in international tournaments.
As England enters the semifinals, Southgate’s approach will continue to be scrutinized. Whether his ‘streetwise’ style will ultimately lead to victory remains to be seen, but it’s clear that he’s not backing down from his approach, even in the face of considerable criticism.
