Is Gareth Southgate the right man for England?

Cover Image - https://theathletic.com/3966911/2022/12/11/southgate-england-world-cup-future/ 

Gareth Southgate has been the manager of the England national football team since 2016, and his performance has been a topic of debate among football fans and experts. Some argue that he is the right man for the job, while others believe that he is not the right fit for England. In this blog, we will examine the arguments for and against Southgate and determine whether or not he is the right man for England.

He has led England to their best performance in a major tournament since 1966. Under Southgate's leadership, England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, the final of the 2021 European Championships and a quarter-final in the 2022 World Cup, which is a significant achievement for a team that has struggled to perform in major tournaments in recent years. Additionally, he has developed a young and talented team. Southgate has given opportunities to young players and created a squad that is capable of playing the football he desires. The likes of Phil Foden, and Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice have become integral to the England team under Southgate's guidance.

The spirit of teamwork and unity has always been a priority for him. Southgate has worked hard to create a positive and inclusive team environment, which has helped to improve team morale and performance. This has been evident in the way that the England team has played with a sense of togetherness and unity during his tenure.

However, the football England should be playing has not been accurately reflected by Southgate as he has been too cautious and defensive in his approach to many big games. Some critics argue that Southgate's tactical approach is too cautious and defensive, which has prevented England from playing to its full potential, a notable example being the Euro 2020 final against Italy. England started the game strongly with an early goal but decided to sit off for the remainder to play on the counter which ultimately cost them the final.

The team has often been accused of playing with a lack of creativity and attacking intent, particularly against stronger opposition. He has been questioned about his team selections. While Southgate has developed a young and talented squad, some critics argue that he has 'favourites' within England ranks. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Harry Maguire, and Kalvin Phillips have all been criticised for their performances at club level, yet they are first to be picked by Southgate in international breaks. Many fans are displeased as they find this bias hindering the future of England as stars such as Rashford, Maddison, and Tomori are getting very limited playtime. An example of this was seen at the World Cup in Qatar where Rashford only got 5 minutes in a crucial game against France in the quarter-finals. Despite being the joint-top scorer, only starting 1 match in the tournament, Rashford only got small minutes which left many England fans confused. If this continues on, it won't surprise me to see England's harmony within the squad diminish and players such as Rashford prioritising their club over country.

While Southgate has had one of the best-performing England sides since 1966, it is fair to say his poor selections and tactics and big games will only hinder England's success. I believe that this crop of England players is destined to win a major trophy, however not with Southgate at the helm. His incompetence for change and mentality in big games has proven to be costly hence the faith it can be argued that he is not the future of England's national team.