Gareth Southgate was not long ago credited with making England fans fall back in love with their national team.
Now into its 58th successive year of hurt, English men’s football team has a well-documented capacity to be the focal point of ruinous national self-mythologisation.
Known as the Three Lions, the side’s fortunes have long been indelibly linked to the national psyche. It’s been a saga worthy of Shakespeare, studded with heroes, villains and ancient grievances.
Gareth Southgate celebrates after England’s victory in the semi-final against the Netherlands.Credit: Getty Images
For many, particularly those in Australia where age-old sporting rivalry supersedes any sort of feel-good story, it has provided an endless amount of comic relief. To the millions of English who’ve lived it, it has been torturous.
At an international level under Southgate, England has reached a semi-final (2018 World Cup), final (2020 European Championship), quarter-final (2022 World Cup) and now another final – the 2024 European Championship in Germany against Spain to be played Monday morning AEST. It is unprecedented in the team’s 150-year history. More importantly, the feeling from fans towards the team has transformed into something infinitely more positive.
But despite England advancing unbeaten into the final, attitudes have turned markedly against the coach.
Read the rest of Rob Harris’ cracker scene-setter here.
Source Agencies
