Lions can’t live with main men
We all sang football was coming home but we could end up in second tier
ENGLAND 1 SPAIN 2
ENGLAND face the prospect of a fourth successive defeat against Switzerland – their worst run in 146 years of international football. But don’t panic. Until Saturday, the Three Lions had not suffered three defeats in a row since the ignominious 1988 European Championship under Sir Bobby Robson. Keep calm. The only two previous occasions this century that England have suffered a competitive defeat on home soil were the 2007 “Wally with the Brolly” night against Croatia with Steve McClaren and the time Kevin Keegan quit his job in the toilets after a 1-0 defeat in the final game at the old Wembley in October 2000. Carry on. All of a sudden football seems to be running away from us so soon after we all sang that it was coming home.
Finishing bottom of their UEFA Nations League group with Spain and Croatia would mean England are down in the second tier of European football, populated by the likes of Northern Ireland, the Czech Republic and Turkey.
That is a far cry from being one of the final four at a World Cup. And if England are relegated, there is a 50-50 chance they will miss out on a seeding for Euro 2020 qualification, which starts in March. That’s the bad news. The good news is Gareth Southgate still has his map to drag England out of the doldrums and his aim is still to take them all the way to the promised land. For too long England have been content to paddle in the wake of Germany, Brazil, Spain and the like.
All the current England manager pleads for is patience.
After what he has achieved – uniting the nation behind the team, giving the young players belief in a system that can work, and making wearing the Three Lions a matter of pride again – he deserves that.
A 2-2 draw should have been England’s against Spain at Wembley, with Danny Welbeck’s late equaliser harshly ruled out for a foul on David De Gea.
Marcus Rashford’s opener had been quickly wiped out by Saul Niguez, right, and after Rodrigo added a second from a neat set-piece, Spain seemed to be playing within themselves.
Sharing the spoils with a nation that has been at the top, or thereabouts, for over a decade might not have been deserved but it would have given long-suffering England fans another thing to cheer about under Southgate.
Instead, is there a danger of England losing the momentum built up over the summer?
“Yeah, of course there is,” said Southgate. “Everything that’s around the team is supremely positive but we’ve got incredibly tough fixtures – we’ve just got to try to find a way to win them.”
If he cannot, is there a danger the belief that has been built
up will start to unravel in the heads of all concerned? “Not in mine,” said Southgate.
“We had to be strong in our beliefs. Even without getting that equaliser, the spirit shown and the quality in the last half an hour was important.
“The players give absolutely everything and I couldn’t ask for more. We’ve got to keep working and improving tactically and work those sorts of games out. It’s going to be tough.” In previous generations, not least the ‘Golden’ one, England have had the players but not the system. After working so hard on the tough bit, it may be years before Southgate has at his disposal the necessary players to make his vision work. Harry Kane needs to work out where the space is to maximise his scoring from open play. Rashford needs to be more clinical in front of goal. Dele Alli needs to revamp his attacking aspirations as well as the hard work he is putting into front-line defence.
The back three could do with more practice and Jordan Henderson or Eric Dier needs to become N’Golo Kante. That could take time.
Which is why the topic of extending Southgate’s contract beyond 2020 will remain a hot one. If we are going to suck up all these unfortunate statistics, we need to feel the commitment is a proper one.
“In the end it’s not something that’s right to discuss publicly,” he said. “I’m under contract, enjoying the role. I have two years that lead to a European Championship. It’s going to be a brilliant experience.”
Provided, or course, England are there. That’s the trouble with results. They always do count in the end.