On July 15th, the curtain fell on the European Championship final as Spain lifted the trophy after defeating England. The Daily Mail penned an analysis of England manager Gareth Southgate’s future.
“This European Championship saw many bright moments for England, with Bellingham’s overhead kick, Saka’s world-class goal, Watkins’ match-winning strike, and Palmer’s long-range shot. However, relying solely on individual brilliance is far from enough, and England’s performance was not championship-worthy.”
“Who can lead England to the pinnacle? That’s the question. But it’s clear that person isn’t Southgate. We are grateful for all he has done, but honestly, it’s time for him to go.”
“This England team may not be comparable to those of 2008, 2010, and 2012, but they are still a quality side. Yet last night, Southgate’s team failed to display the tactical acumen expected of them, playing like scavengers rummaging through bins at dusk…struggling greatly.”
“If England had brought the trophy home, we could have overlooked Southgate’s overly cautious tactics. But for much of this European Championship, they played ugly football, something we cannot ignore. England seemed to lack any tactical planning.”