In his latest column, the former England No. 1 is full of praise for Gareth Southgate after the Three Lions manager guided his side to a second consecutive European Championship final.
England are in the Euro 2024 final, and I’m delighted for Gareth Southgate.
We saw a big jump in performance against the Netherlands, and there are a lot of people who are going to eat some humble pie because the stick they were giving Gareth was a joke. He has ignored all the criticism and done it his way.
People have called on him to bring substitutes on earlier, but he makes changes when he feels they’re going to have an impact. Bringing Luke Shaw on at half-time was a masterstroke because he gave us the width we miss when Kieran Trippier comes inside onto his right foot. With Shaw on the left, we seemed a lot better. It will be interesting to see who Gareth goes with in the final.
I was surprised that Phil Foden came off in the second half, but Cole Palmer came on and set up Ollie Watkins’ winner. Gareth is making decisions that we’re not all seeing, and they’re paying off.
There have been no knee-jerk reactions. When I watch Gareth, it seems like he’s always in control, apart from his celebrations when he properly goes for it!
I think a lot of people have realised that they don’t know what they’re talking about. People were slating him, but we’ve now reached back-to-back European Championship finals.
Winning the tournament would put a cherry on top of the cake for Gareth as England manager, because what he’s built has been massive.
England are getting better and better
It was a better performance from England in the first half, there’s no doubt about that. In the second half, Netherlands made changes to make it more difficult and we went back to passing sideways and backwards, but we were still in control.
Phil Foden was given a bit of a free reign, he was popping up on the left and right and I think that works a lot better in this system. Bukayo Saka fills in everywhere and does a proper job wherever he plays, and he was brilliant again.
The goal was amazing. It was a typical Ollie Watkins finish – he shoots from angles that you don’t expect him to shoot from. It went through the defender’s legs and left the goalie with no chance.
I was getting ready for extra-time, thinking: “here we go again!” It was a strange feeling, because I was so happy to have scored and then suddenly the game was over and we were through!
Watkins’ goal was a prime example of just being ready. You’ve always got a chance of becoming a hero, and that’s what he has become now. That goal will never be forgotten.
That’s the beauty of the England squad, we’ve got so much strength in depth. I’ve heard that Gareth often takes the guys that aren’t involved to the side and keeps them involved. That’s great man management.
Southgate will stick with his side
Harry Kane got a knock when he kicked the bottom of Denzel Dumfries’ boot for the penalty, and that doesn’t tickle – it hurts. If he is 100 per cent fit then I would still start him in the final, though. Kicking someone’s studs like that can be sore, but he’s got four days to recover so I would imagine he will be OK, and I can’t imagine Gareth leaving him out. Gareth knows he’s then got the option to bring on Watkins or Ivan Toney, so I don’t think he will change it.
Palmer made an impact, but I think he’ll be on the bench again. I wouldn’t change the team for the final, especially with how we’ve stuck with the lads all the way through.
Yamal is Spain’s danger man
The only change I could see is Luke Shaw starting because he balances the team better with his left foot, but it would be harsh on Kieran Trippier.
Trippier might be a better fit to play against Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who likes to cut inside onto his left foot like Saka.
If he does, then Trippier would be tackling with his stronger right foot, and Gareth will consider that. You don’t see Yamal going down the right much.
Yamal has been brilliant in this tournament. I couldn’t believe it when I first saw him. I expected him to be really small and skinny, but he’s not, and he’s so mature for 16 that it’s frightening.
His goal against France was fantastic, and England have got to stop him to win on Sunday, but we’ve got players who are capable of those moments as well.
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