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Posted: 2024-07-11 00:27:42

There has been no holding back in the criticism of Gareth Southgate and England at Euro 2024.

"We have to reflect the mood of the nation," former England striker Gary Lineker said on his podcast, The Rest is Football, after England limped to a dire 1-1 draw with Denmark in the group stage.

"I can't imagine anybody, who is English, that would have enjoyed England's performance because it was lethargic, it was dour, you can think of all sorts of words and expletives if you like," he added.

"It was shit."

One wonders what the mood of the nation is now.

England is in its second consecutive European Championship final, following a dramatic 2-1, come-from-behind victory against the Netherlands.

The victory was Southgate's toughest test in his 101 games as England coach — and arguably his most impressive.

Gareth Southgate screams

Gareth Southgate could not contain his joy at full time.(Getty Images: sampics/Stefan Matzke)

Southgate, despite saying he was "oblivious" to the criticism and that he didn't need to "listen to externals", admitted it was tough to take after England beat Switzerland on penalties in the quarterfinals.

"I can't deny then when things get as personal as it has, that does hurt. I don't think it's normal to have beer thrown at you," he said.

"But we're in a third semifinal in four tournaments, and I think we continue to give people fantastic memories. 

"So, we'll keep grinding, we'll keep fighting, and we'll keep enjoying this journey."

That could be the crux of it.

Under Southgate England has reached two European Championship finals and a World Cup semifinal, his only "failure" being the quarterfinal defeat to eventual 2022 finalists France in Qatar.

No other England coach has even come close to such a sustained record of achievement.

Even Sir Alf Ramsay, whose performances in his final two tournaments as coach of England in 1972 and 1974 were characterised by "cautious, joyless football," according to journalism great Hugh McIlvanney and showed timidity in embracing the then-new phenomenon of tactical substitutes.

Sound familiar?

Gareth SOuthgate looks glum

It hasn't all been singing and dancing at this year's Euros.(Getty Images: MB Media/Crystal Pix)

Southgate was seemingly following England's deified World Cup-winning coach down that path towards irrelevance, until this glorious night in Dortmund.

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