So, England are out of the World Cup after a humiliating 5-0 defeat to the USA and Gareth Southgate deserves to hung, drawn and quartered for bringing on a Champions League and Premier League winning captain. At least that’s what social media would have you believe.
In reality, a 0-0 draw put England top of the group and given their superior goal difference, they have all but guaranteed a place in the last 16. Sure, they should be topping this group when you consider the opposition, but USA are no mugs, and ranked 16th in FIFA’s world rankings. They shouldn’t be dismissed and will fancy their chances of progression after this result.
Gareth Southgate is going to be the fall guy for England this tournament. Every decision he makes is under the microscope and he simply cannot win with his critics. When he picked the team that hit six past Iran, the players took all the praise. When England win, it is despite of Southgate, not because of him. But when the Three Lions fail to win, it is all his fault, and he shelters the players from abuse. It’s the sign of a good leader to shoulder that responsibility, but the players must stand up and take some of the blame.
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Harry Kane was woeful, Raheem Sterling absent, Jude Bellingham poor and Declan Rice way below his usual standards. Meanwhile, the manager was slammed for even considering taking Harry Maguire to this World Cup. Last night he was the best player wearing a white shirt. Nobody’s giving him credit for sticking by his man, when everything was going against him. Given Southgate picked the exact same eleven that thrashed Iran on Monday, it’s difficult to see how it's completely his fault for the pathetic performance they put in.
He picked the right starting XI and his substitutes made sense. England were getting battered in the second half and couldn’t get hold of the ball, so Southgate replaced and off-colour Jude Bellingham with Jordan Henderson, and took off Raheem Sterling for Jack Grealish. Instantly, his side were able to get back on the ball and stop the American advances.
Marcus Rashford has looked sharp recently as came on for Bukayo Saka. Sure, the Manchester United man is more effective from the left, but it was important to get him on the pitch and he produced from the right against Iran.
Then we come to the elephant in the room. Phil Foden. England’s most talented technical player was left on the bench, as the manager stuck with Mason Mount in midfield. But Foden is not a central midfielder like Mount is and importantly, England didn’t need to go all out for the win.
In a knockout game, if Southgate needed a goal, there is no doubt Foden would have been brought on. But in a group stage game which wasn’t going their way, it was far more important not to lose it than to win it. Now, England have four points from two games and should make it into the last 16. They’ll top the group if they beat Wales on Tuesday.
Winning three games out of three in the group stages is also far less common than you think. France drew with Denmark in their group in 2018 and went on to win the World Cup. Germany drew 2-2 with Ghana in 2014 and went on to win the World Cup. Spain went one further in 2010 as they lost their opening game 1-0 to Switzerland and Italy drew with USA in the group stage in 2006 and lifted the trophy.
In fact, the last World Cup winners to win all three of their group matches were Brazil in 2002. That’s twenty years of countries overreacting in the group stages. Now I’m not suggesting that England will win this World Cup, but the criticism and some calls for a managerial sacking are obscene.
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