Southgate lowdown

SELECTION

GARETH SOUTHGATE stuck with the consistency of team selection that has taken England this far.

Many believed he would freshen up things with the introduction of Danny Rose and Marcus Rashford for Ashley Young and Raheem Sterling. But Young and Sterling stayed and Dele Alli – another one that Southgate has stuck by – bagged the second goal.

At Euro 96, Southgate was in despair. Now, he is a national hero, whatever happens in the semi-final.

TACTICS

SAME 3-4-2-1 formation as before, but at times Kieran Trippier was more like a right winger as he supported the England attack.

Set-pieces were always going to be our most dangerous weapon, and it was from Harry Maguire’s superb header that England broke the deadlock.

If you were picky, the performance lacked the intensity and the tempo of that first half hour against Tunisia. But once England went in front, this was always going one way.

VERDICT

AS EVER, a cool head while everyone around the country lost theirs.

Inspired his men to focus on the win rather than the performance, and the net result is a place in the semi-final on Wednesday.

After the Maguire and Dele goals, Southgate’s men managed the game superbly, while Pickford pulled off a string of top saves.

The boss will have enjoyed renditions of the Atomic Kitten song, belted out in his honour by fans. Will probably be humming it himself today.