If England beat Holland tomorrow night, can Gareth Southgate bring it home for England on Sunday?
If England reach the final, it will be his 102nd game in charge as England manager. Nobody has represented England as many times as Gareth Southgate. Currently, he has been a manager for 100 games and he represented his country as a player 57 times.
He has a win rate of just over 60% and he is the only manager in Europe to have taken a team to the quarter-finals of the last four major tournaments – 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euros 2020, World Cup Qatar 2022 and this year’s Euros in Germany.
Not a bad record.
With 100 games and counting, is this success due to a master technician or sheer luck in the availability of some of the most talented players in the world?
As proven in the recent penalty shootout against Switzerland, Southgate’s England are talented and confident. They have the mindset and resilience that has evidently been missing over past campaigns.
Players such as Kane, Bellingham and Trippier have the experience of playing in some of the best leagues in the world, and the majority of players have seen success at the highest level in the Premier League, arguably, the fastest and toughest in the world.
Can Gareth Southgate bring it home with the players he has?
Traditionally, to succeed at an international level, a squad must consist of quality players in every position – there must be no weakness – and some players require the experience of playing in foreign leagues.
England has this mix, and many are of the opinion that with the players at his disposal, Southgate should’ve delivered glory before now.
One of the reasons why Southgate finds himself under so much pressure is that France, Germany, Spain, Holland and Portugal have all won major trophies within the last 30 years.
Even England fans in middle age have never witnessed England’s glory, whereas France, Argentina and Spain – all with smaller populations – have seen stars appear on their shirts within the last decade. Even Greece have won the Euros in recent years!
Most England fans have only experienced the disappointment of England at a major tournament and many believe that, with the array of quality players at his disposal, Gareth Southgate should be able to bring it home now.
But can Southgate steer England over the line with his tactical prowess against a Dutch side that was barely capable of qualifying from its group?
Again the problem is there. It’s a critical moment.
A certain Ronald Koeman is steering the ship at Holland now and, anyone of a certain age will recall a Dutch side when Koeman either tormented or destroyed England.
There was a particular freekick that still haunts me. Only Graham Taylor and his inept team of misfits were unable to foresee what Koeman was about to unleash. You can hear legendary commentator Brian Moore almost sending out a warning – “Again the problem is there; again it’s a critical moment. He’s going to flick one now….he’s going to flick one!” – as Koeman floated a ball over the England wall, beyond Seaman’s flailing glove. Another humiliation.
But even if England overcome Holland, they will still have to beat either France or Spain in the final. Neither side appears to be at their best but you couldn’t call either of them weak with players like Mbappe, Dembele, Kante, Williams, Rodri, Lamine Yamal and Carvajal on the field.
Spain have the attacking fluidity and France have the ever-present Deschamps in command who is like a bad dream. He won’t go away and he won’t stop winning.
On paper, maybe, England just nudges it against Holland but I feel that England’s laboured possession game of lethargic passing will be Gareth’s Achilles heel against a team with superior quality.
I’d like to see England play quicker out of feet and move faster up the field in an attempt to find the space that Holland often leave for the opposition.
With England’s record of limited shots on target, a solitary goal could be all the difference on the day. It is predicted to be an open game in Dortmund in a stadium familiar to England’s created talisman, Jude Bellingham. England will need to utilise the Real Madrid play-maker if they are expected to exploit space and create opportunities for Harry Kane and other attacking midfielders.
Chances have been few and far between and Southgate will likely return to four-at-the-back to match the Dutch. We don’t know if Konsa will deservedly keep his place or whether the reliability and strength of Marc Guéhi will determine his return.
England have certainly had the easiest path to the semi-final but, when you get to the business end of tournament football, there are no easy games.
Let’s hope the team can progress and Gareth Southgate can finally bring it home for England.
Tree Season’s Prediction: England 0 – Holland 0 (England win 3-0 on penalties) – Come on England!
