When Gareth Southgate walked into the Wembley dressing room after England’s win over Ukraine, part of his message was more emotional than tactical. “I said to the players: ‘I love being part of this team.’ Because they are exceptional to work with,” he explained.
It was the more remarkable because Southgate could have relinquished his part in the team. In his previous match at Wembley, England went 2-0 down to Germany. An awful Nations League campaign was prompting Southgate to walk away after the World Cup. Instead, they fought back to draw 3-3 with their old rivals, were one of the better teams in Qatar and have made a terrific start to Euro 2024 qualifying. A fourth tournament cycle under Southgate seems certain to bring a fourth tournament.
