It is not just in England where Gareth Southgate’s tactical and personnel decisions continue to be mulled over with the finest of toothcombs.
Many a Three Lions supporter once again finds themself at something of a personal crossroads.
Yes, the football has been largely dull. A cure for insomnia in some cases. Yes – if the scoreline followed the XG – it would be Switzerland planning for a semi-final clash with the Netherlands at Euro 2024 on Wednesday night.
But the fact remains that – for all of the criticism rolling in like an avalanche in in Southgate’s direction – England are in the final four yet again.
There may nothing tangible or silver-coated to show for the Southgate era yet. But, in terms of pure results, there can be no doubt that he is the most successful England manager of generations.
Yet, Southgate remains a highly divisive figure. Not just on UK soil either, Dutch icon Ronald de Boer equally bemused that a team containing such world-leading talents continue to perform with all the fluidity and coherence of a Zack Snyder script.
Southgate picks Walker and Trippier over Trent Alexander-Arnold
“It’s very strange,” De Boer tells Voetbal Primeur. “When you see the (clubs England’s players represent); Manchester City, Arsenal, Bayern Munich… How is it possible that you can’t forge a team?
“Sometimes you simply don’t complement each other. It’s not a team with different weapons, at least, that’s the feeling I have a bit.
You think, ‘this has to work one day’. But it still doesn’t work.”
De Boer feels the Netherlands will go on to meet either France or Spain in Sunday’s final, tipping Ronald Koeman’s side to win on penalties after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes.
The former Ajax, Barcelona and Rangers star also cannot understand why Southgate continues to persist with the underperforming Kyle Walker while he has a player of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s obscene talents watching on from the sidelines.
Liverpool’s number 66 scored the winning spot kick as England saw off a stubborn Switzerland in the last-eight.
But he is yet to make a single start at the Euros in his favoured right-sided spot, struggling in midfield before being dropped to the bench.
“That Trent Alexander-Arnold is not playing…” a bemused De Boer adds. “In my opinion, you should always field Alexander-Arnold. You need someone with a great passing ability.
“Then, (Southgate) chooses Kyle Walker. With all due respect, Walker is lightning fast but, on the ball, he is very, very mediocre.
“Southgate only thinks; ‘I don’t want to get caught up in the counter’. He is very careful.”
Liverpool star dropped during England’s Euro 2024 run
Some say careful, others say cautious.
Either way, there can be no argument that – to some extent – it works. England have reached at least the semi-finals of a major tournament in 2018, in 2021 and now in 2024.
Yet, for many of his critics, Southgate opting for Walker and even the out-of-sorts Kieran Trippier over one of the most naturally talented footballers in Europe typifies a man who remains cautious almost to a point, his tactics often taking England to a certain level before they are dispatched by a more free-flowing, outgoing outfit.
“He’s picked (Trippier) over Trent Alexander-Arnold, which I just cannot fathom at all. I mean, that’s not the Liverpool fan in me,” Anfield icon Jamie Carragher tells Sky Sports.
“I thought it was right that Gareth experimented with Trent in midfield because he’s got, obviously, world-class ability on the ball. It didn’t quite work and he had to be taken out of the team.
“But the reason that you’d play Trippier over Trent, I just can’t get my head around. The only reason would be that Kieran has played maybe a few more games. Maybe he trusts him. But when you say defensively, the whole point of playing three at the back is to release your wing backs.
“And you’ve got Kyle Walker behind you, he’s the quickest player in the squad to mop up anything if you get caught out defensively.
“So to not put Trent in that position, I cannot believe that one. I must be honest, I can’t. I can only imagine where his head is right now in this tournament.
“I would have played Trent in that position.”
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