In an article for The Guardian, it is argued that Southgate operates in an irrational era, where he will face criticism regardless of whether England triumphs or not.
The Guardian suggests that should England fail to win the Euros, Southgate will be ridiculed by those who delight in mockery, labeled a charlatan, a dream crusher, and a traitor to English football. If England lifts the trophy, he will be derided as a mere passenger and imitator, blamed for not winning enough before, and seen as an accidental leader whose team has finally succeeded despite his opposition.
On the other hand, there seems to be no genuine assessment, let alone consensus, about Southgate’s tenure with the England team. Despite noticeable improvements since his appointment, the situation remains the same. People remember Southgate guiding England to the 2020 Euro final but also recall his team losing that final. England was three penalties away from victory, with an otherwise successful campaign, but ultimately fell short due to a detail. Italy dominated that final, owing to their superior midfield. In fact, every major loss under Southgate, from Croatia in the 2018 World Cup to the Netherlands in the Nations League and France in the World Cup in Qatar, can be attributed to a weaker midfield. Southgate is seemingly powerless against this reality. His tactics provide space for opponents, and a more astute tactician might have adjusted the formation to disrupt the game. Southgate is far from perfect, but he did guide England to their second final in 75 years, a fact that cannot be overlooked.
The question of underutilizing so much talent persists. How good is this squad? Is this really a golden generation? Do they possess the attacking prowess of Shearer, Owen, Wright, Sheringham, Ferdinand, Cole, and Fowler? The team lacks a pure holding midfielder and a fit left-footed left-back. England is competent, but expecting them to win the Euros may be wishful thinking.