SouthDownsRoyal Royal Rother SouthDownsRoyal I think Kane is such a “big” player that GS fears not starting him and losing and being slated for this being the reason why we lost
You think he cares about criticism?
I don’t think anything that anyone says before, during, or after a game has any impact on his selections and tactics whatsoever.
Despite the fact that he is contributing nothing, he will of course continue playing Kane because it would be bold NOT to and, good Lord no, we can’t have that.
I do, he is so Uber cautious he fears dropping him
Of course, he may not be dropping certain players because they haven't lost a game yet and have progressed to the semi finals of a major tournament. Again.
Yes, it has been insipid to watch at times but the job of these players is to go as far as possible and potentially do something no England side has managed ever. Win a tournament outside England - or even make a final outside England - they are 1 game away from making history.
Southgate's decision to move to 3-4-2-1 paid off in mainly nullifying Switzerland whilst allowing England to get more numbers forward, the only issue was the lack of belief/confidence to take on a man at times, the few times they did, they caused problems.
I hope England win the think mainly so Southgate can walk off into the sunset with a big fcuk you to the constant critics.
People say he has got lucky with draws but lets look at the tournaments pre-Southgate to see how different it really has been:
2016 Euros - 2nd to Wales in group, lost to Iceland
2014 WC - Out in Group stage
2012 Euros - Won group (incl France) - lost on pens in 1st knock round to Italy
2010 WC - Failed to win group of US, Slovenia, Algeria - lost to Germany in 2nd round
2008 Euros - Failed to Qualify
2006 WC - Won group, beat Ecuador lost in QFs
2004 Euros - 2nd in group, out in first knock out round
2002 WC - Failed to win group, beat Denmark - out in QFs
2000 Euros - Out in group stage
So not exactly a cavalcade of excellence and played against a similar standard of opposition a lot of the time.
Compare to 2018 onwards
2018 WC: 2nd in group to Belgium after playing a "B" side in the last game having already qualified - finished 4th
2020 Euros: Won group, finished as Runners Up
2022 WC: Won group, bear Senegal, lost in QF to France
2024 Euros: Won group, semi final at worst.
But yep, Southgate is terrible. His football may be pretty poor in this tournament but he has been the best England manager in my lifetime at managing tournaments - which as an international manager, is pretty much your only job.