The last time England faced Italy, Gareth Southgate's popularity was such he was asked beforehand who he would choose to play him in a film about his life. On Friday, less than a year later, he was asked why his team's football was not more exciting.
This is the life of the England football manager. In Southgate's orbit, taking England to their first major final in more than half a century only brought with it so much credit and it has run out.
On Friday he sat in a room at St George's Park to talk about this evening's Nations League game. There was some reflection on last summer's Euros final. He was asked, for example, if he still takes pride in his runners-up medal and he replied that, yes, he did.
Largely, though, Southgate was invited to revisit a topic that one senses is wearingly familiar to him, namely his team's style of play.
To many, Southgate's England are simply not beguiling enough to watch. They do not have enough of the ball. They do not have enough attacking players in the team. They play the wrong system. They only score lots of goals against the poor teams.
These are all valid observations and Southgate understands that. He also knows that last summer's efforts, coupled with the run to the last four of the 2018 World Cup, have turned expectations into what now feel like obligations ahead of Qatar in November.
Equally, he has a clear view of how his team should move forwards. He will not, he stressed, be swayed by experts on Twitter (even ones with England caps in their bios), the radio or from the bar of the Dog and Duck.
And maybe, just maybe, we should be thankful for that. Southgate may or may not turn out to be on the right path with this team but at least he justifies why he has chosen it.
'People are going to disagree with selection,' said Southgate. 'That noise over the last two or three years does seem extremely loud and I had to ride that through the Euros. I can see that's where it is again. That's what I have got to deal with.
'I don't read (the coverage) but I sense where the room is with it. Lots of managers have the same, that is the landscape.
'But the balance of the team to get to a semi-final and final has been pretty good. Previously, maybe having the balance of that hasn't been where it might have been. But look...I've got to manage in the way I see fit.'
In terms of the specifics, they are familiar.
Southgate is once more under pressure to start Jack Grealish, even though the player's impact as a substitute in the creditable draw in Germany on Tuesday perhaps suggests that is the role to which he is best suited.
He is also still criticised for his apparent reluctance to start Trent Alexander-Arnold more often and for his fondness for two holding midfielders — Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips — rather than one.
A Southgate strength in the face of all this is an ability and indeed a willingness to explain himself. Some managers will not and others cannot.
On Friday, for example, he outlined that in order to get Grealish into his team in Munich, he would have had to sacrifice Mason Mount. The Chelsea midfielder, he went on, did much to nullify the threat of Germany's best player, Joshua Kimmich. So when he went on to say that 'Mount's contribution was crucial to us getting the result and Jack's contribution was crucial to us getting a result', it was perfectly easy to understand.
Southgate's willingness to engage on these subjects should not be under-valued because it serves as an insight into his ability to connect collegiately with his players. This, after all, is really what matters and his players do tend to pull for him.
On Friday Southgate said that when he travels the country watching his players, the reception from the public also remains positive. 'I do get some pats on the back,' he smiled.
England have some improving to do to go deep in the World Cup. Their results against the really good teams need to be consistently better and tonight would be a good one to win.
Italy, of course, have followed their Euros success by failing to qualify for the World Cup. Roberto Mancini has suffered for that disaster but retains his nation's trust. It could be argued Southgate deserves a similar courtesy.
'I hear about conservatism but we were the highest scorers in Europe last year,' he said. 'So I don't quite know what more you can do.' The film, it seems, will have to wait.
dennisachafu
3
Southgate focused more on defending than attacking and that's why they hardly score goals during major tournaments. He plays back three, two defensive midfielders and Tripia in left wing. How do you expect Tripia a right footed defender to attack from left wing? Just like the name, England plays a very conservative football. They have good attacking players but they would rather stop you from scoring even if it means using more defenders to play a goalless draw they would be happy that they didn't concede goals. When you are too defensive minded, you can't expect much in terms of goal scoring.
Lowaelprty
1
Guys forget about nation league this is the most useless competition ever introduced. I hope it will be scrapped next year. Teams are using this competition to train and select their players for world cup
notbcdkotu
0
k52
1
Southgate doesn't understand the modern day football because his basic knowledge of football is highly debatable. If England wants to do good in the forthcoming World Cup 2022 in Qatar some good experienced manager is highly needed with immediate effect.
khoeseb4
2
England team is useless against good opponents...in Euro they had an easy path, its becoming clear now that England can't compete with top teams.
zizkey008
1
I think this line up has more attacking players and the same time it's balanced, Reece James played in a back 3 for Chelsea many times so he's familiar with it, when England has the ball he contributes better than Walker and Taa is one of the best creative players in the world and you have one of the best finisher in the world in Harry Kane therefore that combination would be lethal , Add this to Mount ,Grealish and Sterling . this would be a pure and a total attacking football. The best of defence is parking the bus but attacking that's why City and Liverpool concede the least in EPL. I chose one holding because you have a back three and I take Kalvin Philips over Rice because he's more creative with the ball than Rice who just passes the ball sides and to the center backs. Mount is the most industrious player out there so he would do a lot in both boxes that's attacking and defending. Grealish and Saka help are technical players , they would help the team to break the press and create chances as well as score goals . Ramsdale is better playing from the back than Pickford and picks good long balls to the attacking players.
HEROICSDEFENDS
4
true England people demand so much yes you have good squad and thing but it take time to win things just see England was not able to get to any final in Euro they reached they are like second Manchester United always getting it on with managers now people want Southgate out will never understand that you guys should write that guy name in history books
darrenham
3
I like his style of choosing players who are in form for their respective clubs but when came to the selection for the first eleven... Same mistake to most mangers... Loyalty is important but FAVORTISM is when you lost the rest of the team trust sometimes lead to dis harmony in the team.