MANCHESTER, United Kingdom —
Gareth Southgate was a national hero less than a year ago as he led England to a first
major tournament final for 55 years but is now in the firing line after a
humiliating 4–0 defeat to Hungary.
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England’s worst home loss since 1928 leaves the
Three Lions facing the ignominy of relegation from the top tier of the Nations
League.
But it is the impact such an embarrassment will have
on Southgate’s preparations for the
World Cup in five months’ time that is the
most pressing concern.
England have only two more matches, away to Italy
and home to Germany in September, before starting their World Cup campaign
against Iran on November 21.
The switch to a winter World Cup due to the climate
in Qatar created a quirk in the calendar that forced international sides to
play four matches this month after a physically exhausting campaign for many
players at club level.
World champions France are also bottom of their
Nations League group without a win in four games, while
Belgium’s Kevin De
Bruyne and Dutch manager Louis van Gaal have criticized the punishing schedule.
Southgate pointed to that as a major factor in
England’s failure to win in four consecutive games for the first time in his
six-year tenure.
“This has been a really unique set of fixtures,” he
said. “I was concerned about it before because I knew we were going to have to
make changes and we couldn’t field a full team for every game.
“I tried to give some young players experiences and
rest some of the players I think have had long seasons. We are going to need
them in the World Cup and we didn’t want to break them.”
‘Sacked in the morning’
Captain Harry Kane and
Raheem Sterling were quick to shut down any questions over Southgate’s future
given the credit he has in the bank for not only reaching the final of Euro
2020 but also the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.
However, it was the manager who was the target for
abuse from a frustrated crowd as Hungary ran riot in Wolverhampton.
The 51-year-old was derided with chants of “sacked
in the morning” and “you don’t know what you’re doing.”
Southgate admitted earlier this week that he will
not “outstay his welcome” as national team boss as criticism of his
conservative approach persists.
Critics of the former Middlesbrough boss, who favors
two defensive midfielders in his line-up, believe he has been too slow to
embrace the array of attacking talent at his disposal.
Manchester City
pair Phil Foden and
Jack Grealish are just two of the creative options whose
chances to shine on the international stage have been limited under Southgate.
However, he appeared to double down on his idea of
how England can be successful in Qatar after such a disastrous Nations League
campaign so far, which has featured just a single goal, from the penalty spot.
“I’m very clear, I know what works for us and I have
evidence now of what doesn’t,” he said.
“Tonight is another example of why that core of the
team has been so important and why the balance of the team has to be right.”
Southgate’s loyalty to Everton goalkeeper Jordan
Pickford and Manchester United captain
Harry Maguire has been questioned in the
past.
But their places in the starting line-up for the
World Cup look even more assured as they were rested for the Hungary mauling.
Southgate will also be hoping for a return to form
and fitness for Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw in the coming months after not
naming a natural left-back in his squad this month.
There are also concerns at the other end of the
field, with Southgate admitting he is worried by an over-reliance on Kane and
Sterling for goals.
But he is certain he is the man to lead England to
Qatar and deserves the chance to prove himself again when it matters most, at a
major tournament.
“I know there will be a lot of criticism and call for
change,” said Southgate. “But I go back to the fact when we’ve had our
strongest teams we’ve had excellent results.”
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