Southgate in need of some luck after a forgettable year

IT started with a defeat and ended with one.

June 2016 to June 2017 – England’s year from hell.

Or at least it was at senior level, given the recent success of the Under-20s in South Korea.

Twelve months ago this weekend, England were preparing to play Slovakia in the European Championships in France.

They only drew that match and seven days later they were out of the tournament after suffering a humiliating 2-1 defeat against Iceland in Nice.

That spelled the end for Roy Hodgson, who quit immediately after one of the worst defeats in England’s history.

But if they had won that night to go through to a quarter-final against hosts France, Hodgson would probably still be in the job.

Defeat in that match against a top team with home advantage would not have been a sackable offence or reason to resign.

A distinctly forgettable 12 months on the international stage was brought to a conclusion with last Tuesday night’s defeat in Paris against ten-man France.

More football misery in that country for England.

Hodgson’s resignation triggered a series of events which impacted not only on the Football Association but Sunderland too.

They lost their inspirational manager Sam Allardyce, who became Hodgson’s replacement.

Big Sam lasted only one match – a win in Slovakia – before being forced out of his dream job because of what he said at what he thought was a private lunch.

On reflection, what was all that about? A slap on the wrist and Allardyce would still have been manager of England.

Instead, the FA appointed their third manager of the year Gareth Southgate.

Meanwhile, Sunderland were hurtling towards relegation without their saviour of the previous season.

And Southgate is now finding out just how difficult it is going to be bridging the gap between England and the top international sides.

He has quickly shown himself to be innovative and intelligent but like every manager, he will ultimately be judged on results.

And as England will, as usual, qualify from their weak group for the next major tournament, the place he needs those results is in Russia next year at the World Cup.

So good luck Gareth, because you are going to need it during the duration of your reign.

Let’s hope that in June 2018 we aren’t holding an inquest into another year that has ended on a sour note.