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Gareth Southgate told a great story on Friday about the record imposed on him by managing a big summer tournament.
Southgate, a most measured man, always makes sure to keep his role and that of his team in proper perspective, especially during times which have been truly terrible for many over the past 18 months. He is always reluctant to use the word “pressure” for example.
Nonetheless, his job as England manager is important and demanding in itself, so when asked before leaving for Rome on Friday whether he had managed to get some time out during Euro 2020, he smiled.
“I haven’t found this possible for the past four weeks,” he said. “The time I give myself, I exercise, so I run or use the gym. There were a few afternoons where I was able to get an hour to catch up.
“The tournaments are so intense. I can be in a meeting at eight o’clock in the morning or finish the analysis at 11 o’clock in the evening. It’s just in nature and I know there will be a period in a few weeks where my family will see me sleeping a lot because that’s what happened after Russia and the World Cup.
“They were taking all kinds of ridiculous photos of me in various places for a few weeks on vacation. Basically I was falling asleep all over the place so it really became a standing joke.
Images of Southgate slumbering in deckchairs, cars, airplanes and hotel lobbies immediately came to mind. But the family ribs can wait. The England boss and his players have another job to do on Saturday night at the Stadio Olimpico. And I hope two more after that. There’s a week left of this tournament to go and it’s time for one last push.
“We all enjoyed the game against Germany,” defender Harry Maguire said on Friday. “The whole day – or call it an event – has been an incredible feeling for all of us. But the next morning we got well and the next night we had a meeting and talked about it.
The message was: ‘Well, it’s time to prepare and focus on another tough game on Saturday.’ We know the threats Ukraine poses. They are a strong team, a good team with great principles. . ‘
The truth is, Ukraine are not a particularly great team, not by the standards of the last eight of a major tournament. They finished third in their group, after losing to Holland and Austria. Their last 16 wins came in the death throes of extra time against a team from Sweden playing with 10 men.
So, no, Ukraine is not a team to be feared. They should be beaten. That’s why it’s probably fair to say that the only thing that can undo England is a significant drop in the standards they set against the Germans.
In Southgate’s mind, this threat seems real and it’s encouraging. You can get any number of psychologists together to talk to his players, but the only people who can really go from the intoxicating of last Tuesday at Wembley to the more pragmatic and professional approach needed on Saturday night are the guys on the pitch. .
“I think physically we are going to be in a great position,” added Maguire. “People will say that we will be mentally tested, but we have to make sure that as a group of players we are prepared for this.”
Trying to play well as a team throughout a tournament is harder than it looks. Few teams in history have done it, even the ones that have won.
The important thing is to move in the right direction and after the disappointment of the draw against Scotland, the victories against the Czech Republic and Germany put England’s compass to the north.
Equally encouraging ahead of Saturday’s challenge is the continued determination of England’s defense. Jordan Pickford didn’t play as spellbinding as some suggested, but was reliable and calm while the players in front of the goalkeeper may have done a little better than many of us feared. .
On Saturday night Southgate is expected to come back to four fullbacks which is about okay for a night where England can expect to have plenty of the ball. Ukraine shouldn’t be expected to be particularly ambitious – extra time would suit them once again – which means England’s extra attacking player, in all likelihood Mason Mount, will be valuable.
This is a strange game. If that had been another super power, it wouldn’t have been that difficult for Southgate players to increase their adrenaline levels.
But instead, he’s got a bit of an “after the Lord Mayor’s Show” feeling. From this point of view, it is important that England take the lead early on.
There was a lot of talk about Iceland at Euro 2016 during the Southgate press tours on Friday but there is no reason for them to fear such an implosion.
This England team has a little more on them and their manager is not the type to stay awake at night contemplating failure.
The Southgate deckchair can wait a while. Something really special remains at your fingertips.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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