SAMI MOKBEL: How can Gareth Southgate walk away from England?

SAMI MOKBEL: How can Gareth Southgate walk away from this England team? He’ll be heartbroken but the Three Lions have gone from circus act to an elite footballing nation under his guidance

  • England crashed out of the World Cup after suffering a 2-1 defeat against France
  • The pain of this loss will linger for some time, particularly for Gareth Southgate 
  • But there is no one better to take the young England side that he built forward
  • His team stood toe-to-toe with France and went out with their heads held high
  • This is the house Southgate built and he deserves to stay a little while longer 
  • Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results

The pain of this loss will linger for some time, particularly for Gareth Southgate.

Of course, the players will be heartbroken; they truly believed this was their time.

But they’ll be back at their clubs playing Premier League football before they know it. Their anguish will be cast aside, their focus will shift to the trials and tribulations of the domestic scene.

Gareth Southgate is still the best manager to take this young England side he built forward

England crashed out of the World Cup after suffering a 2-1 defeat against France out in Qatar

For Southgate, though, he doesn’t have the opportunity of jumping straight back on the horse.

He’ll dwell, analyse and then dwell a little bit more. Because he believed just as much as his players; falling short will come like a dagger to the heart.

It’ll take time get over this one. But when the dust settles, the agony diminishes and clarity of mind reappears we should all hope that Southgate – the man who transformed our national team from a circus act to a genuine elite footballing nation – finishes the job he has started.

Because how can he walk away from these guys? His guys. This vibrant and attractive England team stood and fought. They went to toe-to-toe with France.

They didn’t go into their shell; they seized the moment. They fell short, yes.

Harry Kane squandered a superb chance to draw the Three Lions level from the penalty spot

Kane looked inconsolable at the final whistle as France held on to reach the semi-finals again

Southgate’s side were fearless in Qatar – so how can he walk away from this England team?

The English have had enough of the gallant loser moniker, but this is exactly what this was.

Having spent the last four weeks mixing regularly with the squad here in Qatar, quite how this set of England players feel about their manager is hard to do justice.

In football parlance: they’d run through brick walls for him. There’s so much to be said for that.

The focus will now shift to the future. Does Southgate stay or does he go?

We and the Football Association will find out in due course.

But having watched how brave his team were against the French, how does Southgate walk away from this?

How can he walk away from his captain Harry Kane; the embodiment of the England manger on the pitch.

Dignified and honourable, the man who showed nerves of steel to smash home England’s equaliser from the spot last night – a goal that fired him level with Wayne Rooney on 53 to become the nation’s joint all-time goalscorer.

A man who will need Southgate’s unwavering support more than ever after skying a late penalty over the crossbar.

How does he walk away from Bukayo Saka; the boy-wonder any father would happily hand his daughter over to, the man who petrified the life out of France’s defence last night.

How does he leave behind Jude Bellingham – the prodigiously talented 19-year-old who swaggered around the Al Bayt Stadium like he owned the place. The man who has all the traits to become England’s greatest ever footballer.

Southgate built this house and he deserves the chance to stay longer and finish the job

How can he leave behind Declan Rice; our very own Sergio Busquets, a player developing into one of European football’s finest defensive midfielders?

How does he walk away from Phil Foden; the boy wonder with the world at his feet? How does he walk away from all this?

This is the house that Southgate built. He should live in it, just for a little while longer.

The job’s incomplete, finish what you started. This shouldn’t be where it ends. These players need you, so much more after the heartbreak of tonight.

Stay, Gareth.




Share this article

Source: Read Full Article