Southgate celebrates a ‘different’ England
England boss Gareth Southgate believes it is vital not to stifle his players from celebrating their ties to other countries and wants to foster a brand of patriotism more relevant to modern Britain.
Terry Venables handed Southgatehisdebutin1995and the central defender went on to win 57 caps for his country, featuring in two World Cups andtwoEuropeanChampionships. Since his 2016 appointment,Southgate,52,hasfound himselfinchargeofmanymen who were also eligible to play elsewhere but chose to represent England.
“In the last few years I’ve learnedalotfromleadingthese boys,” said Southgate.
“It’s always struck me that we talk a lot about what it means to play for England and being proud to play for England, but our country is in a different time now and everybody is also proud of where their family roots might be.
“We’ve obviously got playerswhohavefamilyfromNigeria, from the Caribbean, from Ireland. The world is really fluid now, people are moving to different countries. They’re proud of the country they represent, but they’re also proud of their heritage.
“I think for a long time we didn’t recognise that. So when I’mtalkingaboutwhatitmeans to play for England I’m really conscious that it’s different for everybody. When I started playing it was Stuart Pearce and Tony Adams knocking the dooroff,screamingandshouting.We’vechanged.Theywere proud to play for England, our boys are proud to play for England, but it’s a different sort of approach.”
Among Southgate’s players eligible for other countries are midfielder Declan Rice, who switched allegiances from Ireland–ateamforwhichcaptain Harry Kane is also among the eligible – while Bukayo Saka couldhaverepresentedNigeria andRaheemSterlingJamaica.
Embracing multiculturalism, for Southgate, even extends to team mealtimes centred around cuisines from different cultures and countries. Southgate admitted he sometimes felt “frightened about going down to eat” when he played for England, “because it was with people I wasn’t comfortable with’. And then when you go out onto the pitchyoudon’tfeelthatyoucan be yourself. And if you can’t be yourselfoffthepitch,youcan’t be yourself on the pitch.”