Redemption or ridicule awaits Southgate v Germany

TWENTY-FIVE years on from the penalty miss that cast a shadow over his playing career, England manager Gareth Southgate has a shot at redemption and revenge against Germany.

Ronaldo tops the scoring charts at the Euro with five goals in three group stage matches, but Benfica defender Vertonghen has his eyes on the European champions’ talented attack as Belgium, the world’s top-ranked team, continue their hunt for a first major international honour.

Euro 2020’s blockbuster last 16 clash comes much earlier in the tournament than the Euro 96 semifinal between the pair when Southgate was the only one of 12 players unable to find the net from the spot.

But with a favourable route to the final for the victors and England enjoying home advantage at Wembley tomorrow and the semi-finals and final should they get there, the pressure is on Southgate to deliver.

“I hope we can do it for him as well so he can get his own revenge,” said England midfielder Declan Rice.

Southgate himself has tried to get his England team to look forward not back, especially given the Three Lions’ record against Germany in major tournaments.

Since lifting the World Cup in 1966, England have never won a knockout game against the four-time world champions, losing at the 1970, 1990 and 2010 World Cups on top of the pain of Euro 96.

“There’s no point fearing the past,” Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford said this week. “You can’t go back and change it. What we can change is the result of the next game.”

Southgate already has so much credit in the bank with his employers that Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham told reporters on Friday he wants to extend his contract, which runs until after the 2022 World Cup, regardless of tomorrow’s result.

An unexpected run to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and Southgate’s impressive leadership on a series of off the field matters has earned the FA’s trust, but some of the public remain unconvinced.

Despite topping Group D with seven points from a possible nine, a return of just two goals from three games has not impressed the England fans on their return to Wembley.

A 0-0 draw with Scotland was met with a chorus of boos, while social media has been littered with criticism of Southgate for being too conservative with such an array of attacking talent.

The use of two holding midfielders in Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips and the manager’s faith in Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling means there has only been two places available for Jack Grealish, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount and Bukayo Saka to fight for.