When Brazil won in 2002 they just scraped through qualifying. Historically England have smashed qualifying and failed at tournaments, while France, Germany and Italy don’t do as well in qualifying, but better in tournaments.
That said, we have a good squad at present and I think Southgate could get more out of them. Plus, he makes tactical errors and doesn’t seem to learn from them.
This isn’t a call for firing or anything close, just an honest assessment. I like Southgate, he is likeable as a person and is evidently a great man manager. I have never seen an England side as unified as this, and Southgate has a large role in that, I think. He is the best manager we have had in a long while and I hope we progress as our young squad ages.
I just find his strategies and in game management baffling at times.
