Highs and lows of Gareth Southgate’s reign ahead of 100th England game
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. Other than beating Spain at Euro 96, England had lost six of their seven shootouts at major tournaments but Southgate’s side would eventually turn the tide, seeing off Colombia 4-3 at the 2018 World Cup and following that up with victory over Switzerland on spot-kicks to secure the bronze medal at the inaugural Nations League a year later. “It’s what we stand for as a team and have done for a long period of time,” he said after it was confirmed England would continue to take the knee at the 2022 World Cup. The 4-0 reverse was a second loss to Hungary in 10 days and was England’s worst home defeat since 1928, with Southgate jeered for much of the second half as chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” rang around the stands. Southgate labelled it a “chastening night” as the nation’s backing he had largely enjoyed since the 2018 World Cup wavered in the West Midlands.