England's head coach Gareth Southgate reacts from the sidelines during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group C football match between Denmark and England at the Frankfurt Arena in Frankfurt am Main on June 20, 2024. (Photo by Angelos Tzortzinis / AFP)
COLOGNE: Under-fire coach Gareth Southgate remains resolute in his focus despite accepting he is probably the reason why England’s “world is different” to any other team going for Euro 2024 glory right now.
Among the favourites to go all the way in Germany, poor performances have overshadowed the Euro 2020 runners-up’s progress to the knockout phase as Group C winners. They will face Slovakia in the last 16 in a favourable draw.
England edged past Serbia 1-0 in their opener before riding their luck in last week’s 1-1 draw with Denmark, leading to boos at the final whistle in Frankfurt.
That anger went up a notch on Tuesday despite the 0-0 draw with Slovenia seeing them top their group, with Southgate copping flak, and almost being hit by empty beer cups, when he went to applaud fans.
But Southgate – a veteran of four major tournaments as a player and now four as manager – would rather be the lightning rod, albeit he is wary about the joy being sucked out of playing for England again.
Asked if he would rather have the criticism directed at him, he said: “100%. That is my job. I have to keep the players right on track.
“On the day of the game I showed them pictures of Italy celebrating their qualification with their fans, of Hungary celebrating when they didn’t even know if they were through.
“Denmark celebrating a draw against us, and they were on two points. Our world is different at the moment and I feel that is probably because of me.
“I have to help the players as much as I possibly can because we brought the joy back into playing for England and we have to be very careful of where we head with it.”
On whether he has any regrets given he felt it was down to him, Southgate said: “No, I don’t have any regrets. But we need everybody behind the team.”
The Slovakians, who finished third in Group E, are the first opponents of a knockout phase that could yet make this Euros one to cherish from an England perspective.
Southgate has to decide what, if any, changes are made against Slovakia – a match Phil Foden is expected to be back for having left the camp for the birth of his third child, the PA news agency understands.
Sunday’s last-16 tie could also see defender Luke Shaw make a return from the hamstring issues that have kept him out of action for club and country since mid-February.
Asked how the situation was looking after the Slovenia stalemate, England’s only out-and-out left-back said: “Next game.” — dpa
