Whether or not England’s Euro 2024 final against Spain proves to be Gareth Southgate’s last dance with the national team he has overseen for eight years, he will send his side out into the Berlin evening knowing they are capable of achieving immortal status.
The past four weeks have been a rollercoaster ride both for Southgate and his players but they have emerged, somehow, unscathed and within touching distance of a tantalising prize. Reaching back-to-back European Championship finals underlines the consistency they have managed.
It was three years ago that England lost to Italy on penalties at Wembley on a night that was hard to recover from, but as Southgate approaches what is likely to be his swan-song as the manager of the national team, he believes that his players are battle-hardened because of past experiences and ready to follow in the footsteps of the heroes of 1966.
Since taking on the job in 2016, Southgate has been open to new talent and yet remained loyal to those that have served him well. Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, John Stones and Harry Kane all featured in the semi-final loss to Croatia at the 2018 World Cup and will all start against Spain on Sunday.
“There has been an incredible commitment,” Southgate said. “I keep pulling Kyle Walker’s leg because he’s retired three times but is still wheeling his body out in the middle of the summer. It’s a passion — himself, Tripps, Stones, Pickford, that group that has been a bedrock of the team with Kane.
“Through injury we’ve lost a couple and those guys have had to step up even more. Particularly Harry, not having Hendo [Jordan Henderson] here, not having [Harry] Magiure here. We’ve lost some of those senior figures, so we’re wondering: ‘OK, how is this going to play out?’ Especially when we were going through a difficult period at the start.”
It has been far from a smooth existence in Germany for England, criticism has had to be brushed aside. Although they started with a narrow win over Serbia, lacklustre draws against Denmark and Slovenia raised questions as to whether a talented group were being mismanaged,
But the character they showed to come back against Slovakia and then defeat Switzerland on penalties and knock out the Netherlands with an impressive first-half showing and another late goal demonstrated that this is a team with character and a manager who can make brave and decisive calls when required.
In particular, Southgate has enjoyed seeing the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Marc Guehi, Cole Palmer, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney make an impact in their first tournaments for senior team. They have all played a part in England getting this far and that only exemplifies the collective ethos that has been a cornerstone of Southgate’s tenure.
“To see the way they celebrated in the dressing room after the game on Wednesday — that hit us as you saw how deep that has got,” Southgate said. “Part of that is the adversity they’ve been through in the last few weeks.”
Spain will present England’s greatest test so far. Luis de la Fuente’s team have been the best team in the tournament and a midfield of Rodri, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo combined with the electric wingers of Yamine Lamal and Nico Williams will pose them problems.
England have dominated possession in each of their six games while Spain, unusually for them, have been less controlling in their matches but, nevertheless, still won all their six in the harder side of the draw and without the need for penalties.
Southgate’s players will think back to the Wembley final against Italy when they relented control to their opponents and lost the midfield battle as the game wore on.
“Spain’s wingers have been unbelievable at this tournament,” said Luke Shaw, who scored the opening goal in the last Euros final but is expected to start on the bench this time. “The whole team has been amazing. But we understand their threats, where their dangerous players are.
”The experience of going through one [final] before has helped. Everyone feels a lot more calm.”
'I will decide on my future in next few days'
Whatever happens over the next 24 hours, it is likely that Southgate will depart his role ahead of his contract ending in December. He has said that he plans to make a decision on his future within the next few days, with the FA hoping to convince him to extend his stay and lead the team into the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
Southgate has gone through an awful lot during these past few weeks, let alone the last eight years, and he was close to leaving his post after the World Cup 18 months ago before performing a u-turn.
“The way my emotions have gone over the past five weeks, it would be ridiculous for me to think about anything beyond this game,” he said before his second final with England.
“We’ve got time to make decisions and I won’t need weeks but also I think I’ve earned the right to give myself a few days just to think things through.”
He may have even departed earlier in this tournament. “I know where it would have been it we went out it the group stage, that’s for sure,” he said. “I have a pretty good idea in my head.” A resignation may not have even been necessary, he added.
However, he has appeared refreshed after coming through difficulty during the tournament and is proud of how his players have handled it all. He believes they have dispensed with the fear, will approach the final with a can-do attitude and the future ahead of them is bright irrespective of who is in charge.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean that it is just going to happen,” he said. “Other countries progress. Not all of our [players] might progress. This is why you have to take these moments when they come.
“But, yes, the team is not at the end of a cycle, which we never wanted to happen and is why we have always tried to keep blooding young players.
“If anything, I wasn’t sure how that would go. The likes of Kobbie going in for the first time, Guehi into a first tournament, others coming off the bench who were very young. But they have risen to that challenge brilliantly and played so well.”
Southgate, who is set to stick with the same lineup that started the semi-final, said he was “happy” with where the team was at and added: “I’m not a believer in fairytales but I am a believer in dreams, and we’ve had big dreams.” He has confidence that they can now realise them.
