Gareth Southgate is aiming to chip away at the historic tournament failings that have perennially undermined England’s chances, and Sunday’s 1-0 win over Croatia at Wembley Stadium is another notable step along that path.
The 50-year-old is steeped in Three Lions history, standing prominently in the lineage of biannual disappointment dating back to 1966. As a player, he missed the decisive penalty in England’s Euro ’96 defeat against Germany before reshaping his place in the national consciousness as manager of a progressive team for the past five years.
Live piece from Wembley after #eng 1-0 #cro. England win their opening match at a Euros for the first time. Southgate takes another step forward in chipping away and England’s historic tournament failings – and does so his way: https://t.co/9q8WJ49Jk3
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) June 13, 2021