GARETH Southgate managed 102 games for England before stepping down after defeat by Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
But what were the best – and worst – games of the popular gaffer’s eight-year reign before that devastating Sunday night in Berlin? We’ll take a look here.
HEIGHTS:
Colombia 1-1 England (3-4 on penalties,) World Cup 2018
This was the night longtime fans finally began to believe he was coming home.
Despite a late equaliser, England had the nerve to progress to the quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup on penalties.
It was our first victory in a shootout after 22 years.
Spain 2-3 England, League of Nations 2018
After the World Cup, England won in Spain for the first time in 31 years with a brilliant victory in the UEFA Nations League.
Southgate’s men stunned the Sevilla crowd with a thrilling performance in which they led 3-0 at the break thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford.
Although the hosts scored two after the break, the manner in which the Three Lions tore La Roja apart left all the fans in awe.
England 2-1 Denmark, semi-final of Euro 2020
Southgate guided England to their first major final in 55 years after they beat Denmark after extra time in the Euro 2020 semi-finals.
After falling behind after half an hour, the Three Lions fought back and sent it to extra time thanks to an own goal.
Then it was captain Kane who converted the rebound after Kasper Schmeichel had initially saved his penalty in extra time to win.
England 3-0 Sengal, Round of 16 World Cup 2022
England have already beaten Iran and Wales 6-2 and 3-0 respectively in the 2022 World Cup group stage before overcoming Senegal.
The free-scoring Three Lions recorded another big win to set up a thrilling quarter-final against France – what could possibly go wrong?
Italy 1-2 England, qualification for Euro 2023
On the night Harry Kane became England’s all-time top goalscorer, the Three Lions registered their first away win over Italy since 1961.
It was the first game since their elimination from the 2022 World Cup and ensured the perfect start to their Euro 2022 qualification campaign.
England 2-1 Netherlands, Euro 2024 semi-final
The nation doubted Southgate’s men in the semi-finals of Euro 2024, but they responded with an incredible performance.
Xavi Simons opened the scoring for the Dutch, but we equalized with Harry Kane’s penalty.
And Ollie Watkins scored a brilliant stoppage-time winner to take the Three Lions to a second successive Euro final.
AND BELOW…
Croatia 2-1 England, World Cup semi-final, 2018
After guiding England to their first World Cup semi-final since 1990, Southgate’s men got off to a dream start as Kieran Trippier put them in front in the early exchanges.
But Ivan Perišić equalized when the Croats started to take control.
Some of Southgate’s substitutions were then questioned after his side were beaten in extra-time, although many doubted him as he returned as a hero.
Italy 1-1 England (3-2 penalties) Euro 2020 Final
They will probably never get a better opportunity for the Three Lions to secure the trophy than this final of the last European Championship.
Luke Shaw gave us the lead after just a few seconds, but just like against Croatia three years earlier, we sat back and let our opponents come back.
Leonardo Bonucci duly equalized in the second half, and the game eventually went to penalties.
The hapless Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were all brought on to take the spot-kick, but the brave trio missed as the Azzurri broke our hearts as they claimed the prize.
England 0-4 Hungary, League of Nations 2023
A year after the Euros, it was a complete embarrassment for Southgate in this Nations League game at Molineux.
It was our heaviest home defeat since 1928 and the result saw England drop out of the first group of the League of Nations and back into that which contained the Republic of Ireland, Finland and Greece.
England 1-2 France, 2022 World Cup quarter-finals
Another case of what could have been.
After scoring for free throughout Qatar 2022, many thought we were going all the way at the World Cup despite struggling with the seeded sides in the quarters.
We fought back from going to the back to equalize through Kane and many believe France would have been there for the taking if Southgate had taken a more attacking approach.
Instead, they seemed content with what they had until Olivier Giroud swooped in 12 minutes from time to seal the winner.
But England had another twist of the knife as the usually reliable Kane uncharacteristically slotted a late penalty over the bar as we were relegated.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education