WORLD CUP 2022 – Southgate, the man who could put England back on top

A first place, seven points out of a possible nine, nine goals scored – a record for a first round of major competition – for two goals conceded when the match was already won or almost, the balance sheet of the first round is almost at everything great point of view.

On the workforce side, Harry Maguire is revived, Kyle Walker revived, Marcus Rashford carbide, there are no injuries or yellow cards lying around. Everything contributes to England being ranked behind a coach with a remarkable record since his arrival six years ago.

England remained not only on an embarrassing elimination against Iceland (2-1) at Euro-2016, but also on its worst World Cup in history, two years earlier, with a point taken in three matches and a last place in pool behind Costa Rica.

Dividing positions

Since then, he has taken his team to the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia, to the final of the Euro, despite the defeat on penalties against Italy, and he has just won without firing a shot the most difficult group on paper of the Global in Qatar.

The demonstration against Iran (6-2) was the ninth victory in a major competition for Southgate, allowing it to erase the record of Alf Ramsey, the man who took England to the crown in 1966 and who remained in office for 11 years. He brought his total to ten against Wales, swapping Rashford and Phil Foden at half-time, a winning choice since the two players had scored the three goals of success (3-0).

“It’s the players who make this kind of decision work,” modestly commented after the match, the 52-year-old technician who knows how short, in football as in all things, the memory of public opinion and the media can be. Southgate has understood for a long time that there is in him, despite his hushed manners, something fundamentally divisive for a whole section of the public.

His very articulate speech, not devoid of humour, his pragmatism, or his political outings to denounce the xenophobic overtones of the Brexit campaign or to support the fight against discrimination, seduce some but tense many English supporters who are not waiting. only the first setback to make him feel it.

Serious things begin

Without ever departing from his phlegm, he never lets himself be carried away either by praise or by criticism and does not lose sight of the objective.. “So far we are really satisfied, but the serious things start now”, he himself admitted after the match against Wales.

With all his players available, strong choices that have worked, accumulated experience, he is the only master on board.

“Different opponents may require different compositions,” he had also launched at a press conference, to make it clear that he did not forbid anything, not even a possible return to a defense with three centrals. In any case, he has the total confidence of his players around whom he has created a haven of confidence and determination which will be one of England’s greatest strengths.

“I don’t think you have to be a genius to see how much we’ve improved from 2016. You can’t compare the two situations or the feeling at base camp,” had assured Rashford in a press conference before Wales.

“We really have a strong team. We’re not afraid of anyone. It’s up to us to prove that we have what it takes to win the World Cup. Do I think that’s the case? Yes”, had sliced ​​the Red Devil.