Ex-City star believes Lions are on right path
FORMER City striker Craig Bellamy believes it is a ‘matter of time’ before England win major silverware at senior level.
England have won U17 and U20 World Cups in the past year or so and that feel-good factor was maintained by the Gareth Southgate’s side in Russia this summer.
The Three Lions finished fourth at the 2018 World Cup, having reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1990.
“I’ve always said England have had the players to win major tournaments,” Bellamy told Press Association Sport.
“I just don’t believe they’ve had the right man in charge over many years.
“They haven’t had that man who knows the players coming through, someone who can manage the system and get a way of playing that suits his best players.
“It’s always been square pegs in round holes, but the work they’ve done with the younger age groups I think it’s only a matter of time before they win something.”
Southgate was appointed England manager on a full-time basis in November 2016, having previously spent three years in charge of the U21s. England had the second youngest squad in Russia as Southgate promoted many of the players he was familiar with. “I like the way England went about it from the start as soon as Southgate was brought in,” Bellamy said. “There’s always a lot of pressure on England to get whoever’s out there because of the finance they’ve got. They’ve gone down that route in the past with (Sven-Goran) Eriksson and (Fabio) Capello, spent a lot of money and didn’t get the success in tournaments they thought they were going to get. They’ve been building
Craig Bellamy
for a while, so if you’ve got someone in the system who has been working with young players, why not promote them to the top?
“It’s common sense, but you’d be very surprised how few do it.”
Bellamy accepts Southgate’s team did benefit from a kind draw, claiming ‘any England side in the past would have got to the semi-finals the way the groups went.’
But the 39-year-old expects England to be serious contenders at Euro 2020, when they are likely to have home advantage for most of the tournament should they qualify.
“I’ve enjoyed the way they’ve played and liked the way they’ve set out,” Bellamy said at a McDonald’s & Football Association of Wales Community Football Day in Cardiff.
“He made calls on selections that a load of other managers wouldn’t have done because he’s worked with those players at a young age and knows their capabilities.
“England have had a lot of success in youth tournaments, winning World Cups, and that tells me straight away they’re heading in the right direction.
“They’re going to have a lot of confidence on the back of that when it comes to senior level.
“The FA are on the right path, they’ve got their act together and that’s what is putting them ahead of most nations.”
I’ve always said England have had the players to win major tournaments