Penalty drama to Molineux humbling: Gareth Southgate's England highs and lows
Gareth Southgate came up short at the last hurdle for the second tournament running as England were defeated by Spain in the European Championships.Here, we look at some of the highs and lows of Southgate’s reign.
The Highs
Southgate you’re the one...
After a number of disappointing tournament performances, culminating in the Euro 2016 last-16 exit at the hands of Iceland, the relationship between the England team and their supporters was at a low ebb.
Southgate came in to replace Sam Allardyce in November 2016 and as well as improving things on the pitch, the former England defender set about repairing relations off of it.
The players and staff were serenaded during the 2018 World Cup in Russia as they went on a run to the semi-finals, with the nation once again embracing the national team.
Pen pals
As a player, Southgate won 57 senior caps but will ultimately be most remembered for missing a crucial penalty in the shoot-out defeat to Germany in the semi-finals of Euro 96.
After being chastised for his miss, Southgate addressed England’s woeful shoot-out record when taking over as manager.
Other than beating Spain at Euro 96, England had lost six of their seven shoot-outs at major tournaments but Southgate’s side eventually turned the tide, seeing off Colombia 4-3 at the 2018 World Cup and following that up with victory over Switzerland on spot-kicks to secure the bronze medal at the inaugural Nations League a year later. Penalties still came back to haunt Southgate as England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy after a shoot-out but they saw off Switzerland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with five confident spot-kicks.
Taking the knee
Southgate has been always strong on the need for his players to take the knee against discrimination ahead of kick-off for a number of matches.
The pre-match gesture was booed by England fans in Euro 2020 warm-up friendlies at the Riverside Stadium but Southgate always defended the need to show support.
“It’s what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time,” he said after it was confirmed England would continue to take the knee at the 2022 World Cup.
The Lows
Foden and Greenwood break rules
As the world came to terms with the coronavirus pandemic, football returned and so did the Nations League – with England travelling to face Iceland.
With the nation struggling with lockdown regulations, Southgate was forced to take a firm decision and send home Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood following a “very serious” violation of strict coronavirus protocols.
The pair had made their senior debuts against Iceland but Southgate took no prisoners. “It was brought to my attention that two boys have broken Covid guidelines in terms of our secure bubble so we had to decide very quickly that they couldn’t have any interaction with the team,” he said.
Euro 2020 final sees players abused
Southgate and his players were left crestfallen by their Euro 2020 heartbreak but the manager also had to rally around Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.
The trio all missed in the shoot-out and were targets of racial abuse on social media, fracturing a relationship that had been improving year on year under Southgate.
“For some of them to be abused is unforgivable,” Southgate said.
“Some of it has come from abroad, we have been told this, but some of it is from this country.
“We have been a beacon of light to bring people together and the national team stands for everybody. We felt the energy and positivity from the fans and I’m incredibly proud of that.”
‘You don’t know what you’re doing’
The first time Southgate faced mass criticism inside a stadium came at Molineux as Hungary doled out a shock thrashing in June 2022.
A Roland Sallai brace had the visitors deservedly ahead and a long-range Zsolt Nagy effort secured the win before John Stones was sent off in the second half and Daniel Gazdag’s goal added the gloss.
The 4-0 reverse was a second loss to Hungary in 10 days and was England’s worst home defeat since 1928, with Southgate jeered for much of the second half as chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” rang around the stands.
England went on to be relegated to League B of the Nations League, failing to win any of their six games in a group that also contained Italy and Germany.
Southgate labelled it a “chastening night” as the nation’s backing he had largely enjoyed since the 2018 World Cup wavered in the West Midlands.
