Gareth Southgate names his greatest moment managing England: ‘An amazing thing to experience’
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Gareth Southgate has plenty of fond memories to look back on during his time as England manager, from the country’s first penalty shootout victory at a World Cup, against Colombia at Russia 2018, to Ollie Watkins’ dramatic extra-time winner against the Netherlands this summer. “Definitely beating Denmark in the semi-final at Wembley,” Southgate tells Lauren Laverne in his appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs on Sunday. open image in gallery Southgate addresses his England team before extra time in the Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark “Clearly clubs mean a lot to people … but the national team captures everybody, because it’s not just the regular football fan: it’s auntie, it’s granddad, it’s the whole family coming together for national moments. Subsequently, you’re then living with the fallout from being the guy that has ultimately missed the penalty that’s cost us a place in the final.” open image in gallery Southgate reacts after missing in the penalty shootout loss to Germany at Euro ‘96 There would be an eerie parallel with his managerial career a quarter of a century later, when Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka all missed penalties which sealed Italy’s win over England in the final at Wembley.