Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Gareth has been a victim of his own success...we should back him NOW and never forget how far he has taken England,creating a band of brothers who cannot wait to be together again
ENGLAND fans should enjoy the World Cup ride Gareth Southgate is about to take the team on.
After a semi-final four years ago and the Euros final last year, the England manager has become a victim of his own success.
The stakes have suddenly become higher because he has raised the bar.
But it’s easy to forget the summer of 2021 when hopes were high.
It’s because of Gareth that England fans can have an expectation of living with the best. He will have his own plan for how to get over the line in
ANDROS TOWNSEND EXCLUSIVE those tough games against the – as a disappointment? Lose to to the autumn of 2016 when the end of my time with top teams like Croatia four them and I couldn’t have any England were in disarray. Sam England, you went down for years ago and Italy last year. complaints. Allardyce had had one game in dinner at seven and you don’t
He has the players and they But otherwise this England charge before losing his job. leave until around 9, 9.30. have the experience – both side could go all the A few months That’s down to Gareth. He’s with their clubs and their way. In fact, the earlier they went out put pride back into the shirt. countries. further they go, the of the Euros in the Players want to play for him
I’ve had the debate over how more confidence I second round, to and they want to be part of his far England can go with a think they will Iceland. set-up. couple of my team-mates. have. Players back then I’d argue that one of the best
On the face of it, at least a I keep hearing were apprehensive things he’s done is taken his semi-final would be decent. people saying that about joining up experiences as an England
But when you look at their after Russia 2018 with the national player and put them into side of the draw with France it’s ‘win the World team. practice as an England coach. potentially in the quarters, Cup or bust’ for When you did join I’ve played under many how could you regard going Gareth, that he’ll up, you went down managers who have been out to them – the defending lose his job if we go out early. for your dinner at, say, 7pm and players, and haven’t necessarily champions with an But take a step back and you were finished 10 minutes been able to do that. outstanding squad look at the job he has done as later because people kept And let me tell you, you soon spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe a whole. Cast your mind back themselves to themselves. Towards realise as a player when it isn’t
Gareth has put pride back in the shirt. He’s restored faith in the team and given us a reason to dare to dream
a culture of brotherhood. Right now the family can’t wait to meet up with the boys again. That’s down to Gareth.
It is so important to be around a group that you’re happy to spend every waking hour with.
Especially when you’re away from your families for four or five weeks.
The rising level of expectation around England sums up just how good a job he has done.
I keep hearing people say that if England had an experienced manager they’d have this and they’d have that.
But they had Fabio Capello. They had Sven Goran Eriksson.
Coaches who had won things in domestic leagues and who had England’s Golden Generation yet didn’t manage to get beyond a quarter-final.
So England fans should get behind Gareth and the boys.
He’s been a penalty away from being the first manager to win a major tournament in since Sir Alf Ramsey.
He has restored faith in the England national team and has given supporters a reason to dare to dream.