Southgate copes with pressure
In the last round of the Nations League, the national team of England took away the victory in group A, having thrown out Croatia from the elite of the European football. In this material we will figure out the aspects of the Three Lions national team and thanks to what they advance to the top four national teams of the Old World.
It was no coincidence that the England national team made it to the World Cup semifinal in Russia. On the one hand, they did not beat a single top opponent on their way. Among the serious opponents of the British were bronze winners - the Belgians and the runners-up, the Croats. None of these teams did Gareth Southgate beat and took only fourth place. But on the other hand, this achievement had a positive impact on the Football Association of England and the head coach had his contract extended later. As you can see - not in vain.
The team from the Albion started the Nations League with a defeat against the Spaniards, 1:2. The offensive slap at Wembley, and then a 0-0 draw with the Checkered in Rijeka, seemed to lead to a fiasco, but England’s main football body had motivated the manager, having extended the agreement with him until 2022.
This event was a turning point in the psychology of the coach and the young promising team. In the next round already, Southgate, feeling confidence, took a chance and changed the formation from 3-5-2 to variable 4-3-1-2 and slapped Luis Enrique’s Spain 2:3 away. La Furia Roja remained surprised as they could secure a group championship in this match. However, the subsequent defeat of Croatia 3:2 turned the picture upside down.
In the final match, Southgate left the scheme, which brought result with four defenders and pressed the Checkered in front of their fans at Wembley. However, the flaws in the defense did not go anywhere, and the Croats opened the score in the match. Only two matches against Spain and England in less than three days affected the physics of the team of Zlatko Dalić. First, Lingard, and then Kane raised England first to second, and then to first place in the group, having truly returned to the elite of European football.
Southgate is doing his job. The manager brings back football to its homeland, as it was sung in the songs during the summer Mondial. The qualification to the Nations League play-offs is a step forward to a long awaited trophy for the first time since 1996. Although one may argue the significance of the award, but if the Englishmen manage to become first to win the tournament, their names will forever remain in history.
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