Euro 2020: England look to continue momentum vs Scotland
Updated On: 18 June, 2021 09:23 AM IST | London | AFP
Southgate is off to the perfect start, but there is a long way to go if he is to end England`s 55 years of hurt next month.
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England`s coach Gareth Southgate (C) smiles during his team`s MD-1 training session at the Tottenham Hotspur training ground in London. Pic/AFP
Gareth Southgate won over an English public who were sceptical about his ability to lead the Three Lions with a run to the World Cup semi-finals three years ago and is already silencing his critics at Euro 2020. For the first time at a European Championship, England are off to a winning start as Southgate`s bold selection paid off in a 1-0 win against Croatia on Sunday. Next up is a fixture against Scotland on Friday, with the chance to book their place in the last-16 with a game to spare. Southgate`s team selection for the opener caused a social media storm before kick-off as Raheem Sterling retained his place ahead of Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish despite a poor end to his season at Manchester City. Kalvin Phillips`s inclusion alongside Declan Rice in midfield and the decision to start Kieran Trippier at left-back also raised eyebrows. But those calls proved inspired as Phillips set up Sterling for the only goal, while Trippier helped keep a clean sheet.
"I don`t think there would be one person in the 65 million English population who would pick that team today," said former Manchester United captain Gary Neville, who played with Southgate at Euro 96. "I thought he managed that game unbelievably today. I think Southgate is our greatest asset. "The clamour was to go with Grealish but he didn`t even bring him off the bench. He`s had seven or eight tournaments as a coach, U21s and as a player, I feel very comfortable with him as a manager." Southgate`s lack of a stellar coaching CV at club level has counted against him in the eyes of his doubters. His three years in charge at Middlesbrough ended in relegation from the Premier League in 2009. But he rebuilt his reputation in three years as England`s under-21 manager between 2013 and 2016, fostering relationships with a number of his now-senior internationals such as Sterling, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, John Stones and Jordan Pickford.
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