Euro 2020 (held one year late) came to an end with Italy’s penalty shoot-out win against England in the final. The competition caught the public’s attention thanks to England’s most successful campaign since 1966 and the availability of every match on free-to-air television. 

Outside of England, loyalties have been split across these islands. Many of us follow the “anyone but the English” approach, but this particular England team attracted new supporters over the course of the campaign. I must admit, it has been a long time since I wanted to see an England team do well, but there is something different about this group, led by the likable Gareth Southgate. I found myself telling people that I didn’t really care who won. But, while watching the matches, somehow I found myself wanting England to do well after all – despite the fans stealing the unofficial anthem of the Green and White Army.

So, in many ways, was this campaign that ended in defeat actually a win for England? And how exactly has this team managed to win over many who don’t support them?

A long journey

The best England team I remember seeing in my lifetime was the side of the naughties. It was fancied to do well in the 2002 World Cup, and while they had one of the best starting 11s in the competition, there was little depth. Still, the ‘golden generation’ continued to develop. Wayne Rooney replaced an injury- stricken Michael Owen and a retired Alan Shearer; the midfield was controlled by Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard; and Rio Ferdinand and John Terry prevented defenders as good as Jamie Carragher and Ledley King from becoming regulars. 

They were managed by SvenGöran Eriksson and, after a brief spell with Steve McLaren, Fabio Capello. They were all experienced and successful managers, but they couldn’t translate their success in the club game to the international stage. After disappointment with high profile foreign managers, the FA decided to appoint English managers. Stuart Pearce had a short reign and was followed by the experienced Roy Hodgson. Sam Allardyce lasted just one game and then England turned to the relatively inexperienced under-21 manager Gareth Southgate. 

Southgate was, on paper, a desperate choice. He did not have a successful club management career and had been relegated with Middlesbrough. Immediately before his appointment to the senior role, he had managed England’s under-21 team and led them to finish bottom of their Euro 2015 group. This was not a CV that gave people great expectations for his tenure.

What followed proved the doubters wrong. Southgate led England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, losing in extra time to Croatia and ultimately finishing fourth after a further defeat to Belgium. England then reached the semi finals of the UEFA Nations league, losing to the Netherlands and finishing third. We then know that the team reached the finals of Euro 2020, only losing out on penalties.

Euro 2020

England’s performance depends on who they are playing. It isn’t as easy as talking about a Pep Guardiola Man City team and saying they will play 4-3-3 and look to keep the ball as long as possible. Southgate changed England’s formation and approach based on the opposition. This, of course, was successful. For example, comparing the England and Germany sides player for player, you may have concluded that Germany would have had the edge due to the quality of their midfield. But England comfortably won its Euro game against them. Southgate recognised Germany’s advantage but also identified their weakness (lack of pace in defence) and picked a team to exploit this.

Southgate used a 3-4-3 formation against Italy. It worked right away and England’s full-backs combined for an early goal. Southgate based his team selection around his tactics, rather than making players adapt. The problem in the final was that he was facing Roberto Mancini, possibly the best manager in the competition. Italy stuck to their game plan of pressing high and attacking with five players, and eventually England’s defence was breached. 

It was during this period in the second half where the criticism begins for Southgate. He replaced Kieran Trippier with Bukayo Saka. Saka is exceptionally quick and can find space behind defenders, but England continued to play out from the back and failed to get the ball into space for him. When they did it was too late – literally the final minute – and Georgio Chiellini was happy to commit a cynical foul and take the booking knowing that it would have no bearing come penalties. 

Southgate has also been criticised for his management of the shootout. He brought on two forwards in the final minute, solely to take penalties. Both players missed. Perhaps he had forgotten that a shootout was not simply a test of penalty-taking ability, but also nerve. Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho’s first touches were penalty kicks, and that is huge pressure. Bukayo Saka was trusted with the final, and crucial, penalty which was saved. Saka was pictured in tears afterwards and many have criticised his manager for putting such pressure on a 19-year-old when Aston Villa captain, Jack Grealish, and England’s top scorer in the tournament, Raheem Sterling, had not taken penalties. 

Southgate and his team

Still, looking at the big picture, England’s progress has been excellent, and seemingly defied logic. How could Southgate achieve what Capello could not? One thing that has come across over the last few weeks is the sense of this squad being a team. Those active on social media will have seen the banter and camaraderie between the players. There has also been a distinct lack of headlines about bad behaviour, silly social media posts, or much celebrity-oriented attention on the players’ wives and girlfriends. Gareth Southgate encouraged his players to be role models and so to be responsible with their use of social media. 

Gareth Southgate is also an inherently likable person. England fan or not, it is hard not to sympathise with the man who missed the crucial penalty in Euro 96 and was then forever associated with this following the 1998 version of ‘Three Lions’, featured this moment in its music video. 

He further captured hearts through his calm and honest approach during press conferences, and through his protective attitude towards his players. From the beginning of his tenure he refused to give in to pressure from the media and fans to pick certain teams and play a certain way, and this has led to his success.

Many of Southgate’s squad have been genuine role models, responding to their manager’s example and showing leadership qualities themselves. Marcus Rashford has spent the year campaigning for better provision for the poor and will be remembered for taking on the government over school meal provision. Vice-Captain Jordan Henderson led an initiative for Premier League clubs to donate a portion of their wages to the NHS during the pandemic. He was also influential in leading the players’ opposition to the European Super League plans. Both received MBEs for their efforts.

Rashford and Henderson have led some of the more high-profile campaigns, but I could also talk about other players and their leadership on and off the pitch, including the team’s decision to take the knee as an expression against racism. In short though, these players are genuinely in touch with the communities they come from and those they represent on the pitch for their clubs. To show the strength of this feeling, Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson suggested that Marcus Rashford may be the first ever Manchester United player to receive a standing ovation at Anfield. 

This is a squad of players who are very difficult to dislike. Many people who will never support England-the-country may find themselves genuinely wanting to see these players do well. But the actions of some England supporters have cast a shadow hanging over the tournament. The three players who missed their penalties – all Black men – have been subjected to horrific racist abuse. Marcus Rashford has claimed that one of those abusing him was a maths teacher. Meanwhile, some England fans without tickets stormed Wembley before kick off and risked the cancellation of the final, and opposing teams’ national anthems were regularly booed in the stadium. The England team may have won people over, but the actions of a minority of fans continue to badly let them down. 

Looking forward, it’s on the pitch where England’s greatest strengths lie. It has an impressive squad, one that was missing Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harvey Barnes and Nick Pope through injury. There are promising young players coming through and a new attitude leading them to teams abroad for regular football. If you are afraid of England winning a tournament then brace yourself for the next few years, because they will be going into the upcoming competitions as genuine contenders. It’s off the pitch where the biggest issues lie.

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