England reconnect with long-suffering fans
Gareth Southgate believes his England team have already won back the hearts of the nation as they attempt to end the country’s major tournament knockout hoodoo.
England take on Colombia in Moscow tomorrow for a place in the quarter-finals, having not won a knockout game in any major tournament since beating Ecuador in 2006.
But manager Southgate thinks his young side have already overcome a major hurdle in Russia by winning back the public’s affection and bringing an end to the apathy that overshadowed the qualifying victories over Slovenia and Malta.
“Ten months ago, we qualified [for the World Cup] and people were throwing paper aeroplanes on to the pitch at Wembley,” said Southgate. “We were driving back to our hotel in Malta with some obscene chants being thrown at us from supporters.
“I feel like we’ve started to connect the team with the public again. I feel like we’ve created excitement, like we’ve played in a style that has really shown an expression of what young English players are capable of, and I want us to continue doing that.”
England were booed by supporters after being knocked out of the European Championships by Iceland but the performances since qualification for the World Cup and in Russia have won over many critics.
“They’ve been able to change perceptions of how an England team might play,” said Southgate. “We mustn’t lose sight of that. I really believe in the group of players we’ve got. They are young. They are inexperienced. For some of them, this will be one of the biggest games they will have been involved in. But maybe not the biggest. We’ve always got to keep that context for the players.”
Southgate himself has become a popular figure, with Marks and Spencer reporting that sales of the waistcoat he wears have increased 35 per cent since the World Cup kicked off.
“I wasn’t aware of that until someone sent me the article,” said Southgate. “I’m slightly concerned because, as a centre half who took a lot of knocks to the head, I’m not normally synonymous with ‘fashion icon’. I know my strengths and I know I’m no David Beckham.” Southgate is expected to revert to the side that started the Tunisia match, with fitagain Dele Alli returning, and expects a tougher challenge now England are playing for a place in the last eight. Asked what changes once sides get to the knockout stages, Southgate replied: “The level of the games, in terms of the quality. Obviously, the focus, because more excitement, more anticipation, more external noise. What’s possible — the dreams — becomes closer.
“In a tournament, the games are always going to be tight and hinge on small moments. But also generally the better teams have won. We have to set our minds to control what we can and keep the level of performance as we’ve had it.”
Jordan Pickford will once again be goalkeeper, despite the fact the Everton man’s failure to save Adnan Januzaj’s winner for Belgium in Kaliningrad sparked criticism.
But Southgate defended Pickford, saying: “I am really pleased with Jordan’s performances. He knows the belief I have in him. He is an important fit for the way we want to play. I don’t think he’s had much chance with the goals that have gone in.
“He has to make sure he knows the views of those who are important and cut himself away from the outside views that can start to inhibit your thinking.”