England going out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage. Going out at this point in a major tournament used to be as inevitable as the rising of the sun. The only thing standing between us and last-eight elimination was usually either the ignominy of an earlier knockout exit (World Cups 1998 and 2010), a chastening group stage exit (Euro 2000, World Cup 2014) or, in the most desperate circumstances, a failure to qualify (World Cup 1994, Euro 2008).
But recently, the Three Lions have become accustomed to more palatable exits. The World Cup semi-final defeat of 2018 still stung, but it was the first time we’d reached that stage of the competition in 28 years. It had been 55 years since England had played in a major final when they were edged out by Italy in the Euro 2020 showpiece. In short, England were getting better.
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But at World Cup 2022, England are out in the quarter-finals. As was usually the case during the 1990s and 2000s, the exit came in heroic fashion. Taking the holders all the way and arguably being a competent referee, a decent penalty and the width of a post away from preparing for a semi-final against Morocco. But it is the response to this defeat, rather than the defeat itself, that is most instructive as to where England are right now.
Previous tournament departures have been accompanied by a shrug. A few tears too, but generally a “Well, we’re England aren’t we” acceptance. As a nation, England used to go in under no illusions, get all worked up after a good performance or two and then when they go out everyone collectively looks forward to the return of the Premier League.
But this time, the reaction has been markedly different. There’s a palpable, lasting disappointment. A sense of a missed opportunity. Against the world champions no less. A team boasting Kylian Mbappe, many people’s pick for the best player operating today. The shrug has been replaced by a sense of injustice. England got so close to dumping out the best team left in this competition.
“England Expects” used to be the phrase used to communicate that national feeling that this World Cup or this Euros would be “our year”. The demoralising period between the collapse of Sven-Goran Eriksson’s “Golden Generation” and Sam Allardyce’s pint of wine made a mockery out of the idea the Three Lions had any expectations. But after a World Cup semi-final and a Euros final, England does indeed expect once again. That they didn’t meet these expectations this time shows how far they have come.
The problem with increased expectation is the capacity for increased disappointment. Southgate is the greatest manager England have had since Sir Alf Ramsey lifted the Jules Rimet trophy above his head. But many people have had enough. Despite losing a game of the finest margins, one where Harry Kane’s penalty being five feet lower, Marcus Rashford’s free kick being five inches lower or Harry Maguire’s header being mere millimetres to the right would have been enough, people are ready to wave goodbye to the boss.
It’s only natural. Most national coaches don’t stay in the job this long. Southgate’s 81 games in charge are the most by an England head coach since Bobby Robson’s 95-game run through the 1980s up to 1990. But then most England head coaches don’t do the things Southgate has done. Most are not as young as the 52-year-old former Middlesbrough manager when they vacate the post. With a knowledge and record of achievement that puts him near the top of the class for modern international coaches, it’s hard to think of many superior alternatives.
Basing his impeachment on this tournament would be harsh in the extreme. His only crime is heightening national expectations once again. “It’s coming home” has morphed under Southgate’s watch from a sardonic statement of false bravado to a genuine belief. The fact we are still picking over the bones of the France defeat is an indication not of failure, but of how far we’ve come. England expects once again. At this current desolate moment, we should celebrate that fact.
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