Sir Gareth Southgate

[conyoviejo]

From zero to hero... Surely not

[Stayingup]

Southgate out!!!

[wilks_bfc]

..

[ElectroClaret]

Bound to be if we win it.

[tiger76]

Well! he's finally broken our semi-final hoodoo, and for most people under pension age we've never experienced this feeling in our lifetime, so whether we win on Sunday or not he's achieved more than any England manager since Sir Alf, I hope for his sake we can get over the final hurdle as he deserves a major tournament win on his CV.

[Bin Ont Turf]

..

I do very much like that.

[wilks_bfc]

I do very much like that.

Saw it earlier on Twitter and thought the same

[Sozturf7]

Love that wilks.

[Steve1956]

From zero to hero... Surely not

Whoa!!!....steady on

[IanMcL]

If England win the tournament a knighthood will follow.

I hope he gets it. Then we know England won!

Then England will win SPOTY team award!

[Zlatan]

Not won anything yet, but it’s looking ok so far

[Jimmymaccer]

Will get a “gong” and no doubt TOTY at the BBC sports awards………but any “Sir” (or Damehood) should go to those who have got us through the past 18m……

And they’ve done it so I can be on The Turf with my son next season….

But meanwhile………come on England!!!!!!

[Taffy on the wing]

It's nailed on now.

[Boss Hogg]

Well! he's finally broken our semi-final hoodoo, and for most people under pension age we've never experienced this feeling in our lifetime, so whether we win on Sunday or not he's achieved more than any England manager since Sir Alf, I hope for his sake we can get over the final hurdle as he deserves a major tournament win on his CV.

This.

[NottsClaret]

I hope for his sake we can get over the final hurdle as he deserves a major tournament win on his CV.

He'd have the strangest CV in football if we do. Dismally relegated Boro after spending loads, coached u21s for a bit. Then wins England's first major trophy in 55 years.

[Elizabeth]

That is a brilliant share wilks, really touching

[Elizabeth]

Well! he's finally broken our semi-final hoodoo, and for most people under pension age we've never experienced this feeling in our lifetime, so whether we win on Sunday or not he's achieved more than any England manager since Sir Alf, I hope for his sake we can get over the final hurdle as he deserves a major tournament win on his CV.

Fully agree tiger. The feeling on Sunday will live with you forever .

It’s also special for those of us who can recall that 1966 World Cup win. We’ve lived most of our lives thinking we would never see England again in a major final. Sunday will bring back those memories of 66.
For me the cycle is almost complete , I think all I have left to wish for is Burnley playing in an FA Cup Final again.

[Tribesmen]

So much hangs on every game at the moment it's either hero or zero depending on the result .

For me he has done ever so well for England and great to see the FA hanging in with him instead of showing him the door .
What ever happens on Sunday they have a chance in the next World Cup

[tiger76]

Fully agree tiger. The feeling on Sunday will live with you forever .

It’s also special for those of us who can recall that 1966 World Cup win. We’ve lived most of our lives thinking we would never see England again in a major final. Sunday will bring back those memories of 66.
For me the cycle is almost complete , I think all I have left to wish for is Burnley playing in an FA Cup Final again.

It still feels surreal that England are once again in a major final, however now we've got this far it would be a shame not to lift the trophy.

You might have to wait longer to see Burnley in an FA Cup Final alas, we had a good shot at going far last year, and then decided to throw in a limp performance in the Bournemouth game, and we may not get a draw as favourable for a good few seasons.

In KO football you have to grasp your opportunities, now many will argue that England have enjoyed a kind draw, but you still have to win the games whoever you're playing, and there's no easy games in a major tournament, as the Scotland match aptly demonstrated.

[Elizabeth]

I never thought I see Burnley back in the top division so I’m not giving up hope yet.

[Dyched]

I remember when he first took over and he said he wants a “club” feel to the national team. It looks that way watching them and seeing them off the field. They look like decent lads who all get on and would do anything for each other. When they win at their clubs there seems joy from even rivals when they do well. This England side also seem the most down to earth and in touch with the fans like no other. We look at Burnlay players differently to others at clubs, we get them somehow, this England team is the same.

Gareth Southgate also seems delighted to moments he’s given us over the past few weeks and at the last World Cup. I honestly believe it’s for us more than him.

[conyoviejo]

Well that's his Knighthood fecked up and down the pan.

[claretcrav]

No

[fidelcastro]

But I thought Southgate was the one who still turned us on, and football was coming home again?

[PeterWilton]

Well that's his Knighthood fecked up and down the pan.

delayed for 12 months.

[tiger76]

Well that's his Knighthood fecked up and down the pan.

Aye! stick the boot straight in after a penalty heartbreak why don't you, GS has finally brought pride back to the national team, and England were within inches of lifting a major trophy, sadly for GS and the country we just couldn't get over the line.

[Shaggy]

Aye! stick the boot straight in after a penalty heartbreak why don't you, GS has finally brought pride back to the national team, and England were within inches of lifting a major trophy, sadly for GS and the country we just couldn't get over the line.

Let’s be fair after the first 35mins we were easily second best and lucky to make it to pens. Pickford made some good saves.

[BabylonClaret]

Been a good tournament for England and Southgate (who has shown some good tactical moves) but slower to react tonight and got the key tactical decisions wrong tonight.

Learn. Move on. Improve

[Jakubclaret]

A couple of key decisions tonight he got wrong I think with the penalty takers, the more experienced lads should have stepped up & had a do, it’s all hindsight I guess & the Italian keeper easily had them sussed.

[tiger76]

Let’s be fair after the first 35mins we were easily second best and lucky to make it to pens. Pickford made some good saves.

I don't disagree, but if we'd won on penalties nobody would care would they, and although it's gutting to lose in that manner this manager & squad are making progress, and the promising thing is most of them are young enough to go again in another 2/3 tournaments.

[CrosspoolClarets]

Too good to sack and too bad to win anything.

Putting a 19 year old with no senior penalties ever as 5th kick taker was almost a sackable event in itself though (but even I, who don’t rate Southgate, can’t blame him for that shambles that was Rashford’s kick, possibly the worst I have ever seem for England, normally superb at pens).

[BabylonClaret]

Let’s be fair after the first 35mins we were easily second best and lucky to make it to pens. Pickford made some good saves.

No. For the middle 30-40 mins we were hugely second best. When we made the change in formation we got back into the game and againt were like we were int he first 30-35. I think he should have hooked Mount earlier who was probably our weakest midfielder all night (poor for the equaliser too). Extra time only looked like one team might win it (not italy) but we just seemed to need too many touches

[Aclaret]

Southgate ran a good race but sadly fell at the last.

[tiger76]

Too good to sack and too bad to win anything.

Putting a 19 year old with no senior penalties ever as 5th kick taker was almost a sackable event in itself though (but even I, who don’t rate Southgate, can’t blame him for that shambles that was Rashford’s kick, possibly the worst I have ever seem for England, normally superb at pens).

Rashford's miss was the turning point in pens, if he'd have scored it would have been 3-1 England I think, and Italy would have been under extreme pressure.

[Shaggy]

We could have won that game if we went for it in the second half. We had players who could hurt Italy. As soon as we backed off we gave them the momentum which we couldn’t get back.

Penalties are alway a lottery which we seem to lose when it matters.

Next year is another chance, but we need to be more positive against good teams.

[Clarets4me]

Not good enough .....

1) Grealish far too late +
2) Three young lads put in a dreadful position by an incompetent ...
3) Cowardice from Sterling and others tolerated ..

[BurnleyFC]

Italy are a very good side, make no mistake, but it feels like we let them off the hook after our start. Just like we did with Croatia.

And a knighthood for ANY sportsperson or coach who is still actively competing is a nonsense, in my opinion.

[Burnley1989]

Aye! stick the boot straight in after a penalty heartbreak why don't you, GS has finally brought pride back to the national team, and England were within inches of lifting a major trophy, sadly for GS and the country we just couldn't get over the line.

Don’t argue with them mate! They’re out and desperate to find someone to blame after a beer, I’ve almost gone there myself

[Aclaret]

All the pressure of a country on Sahko a 19 year old, Rashford & Sancho ...players who hardly played in the game......where were the senior players ??
Southgate ??

[PeterWilton]

The guy took the 2nd youngest squad in the tournament all the way to the final and only lost on penalties.
They'll be even better next year, and in 3 and 5 years. I think you should be excited, not despondent.

[alwaysaclaret]

I just can't work out the choice of penalty takers and after they were chosen why they have to do a bloody dance before they take them. Why not just pick which side run up and put their foot through it, hope they learn from this. And if anyone should have learnt it's Southgate. Have they not practised for god sake, cos it certainly didn't look like it. Big mistake by Southgate at last hurdle in my opinion.

[basil6345789]

They'd been practising - what, weary side-footers? Come on, we all know what to do when the pressure's on and it's not dancing around and papping it.

[Jakubclaret]

The guy took the 2nd youngest squad in the tournament all the way to the final and only lost on penalties.
They'll be even better next year, and in 3 and 5 years. I think you should be excited, not despondent.

That’s what a lot of people seem to say, it’s a young side it will get better they’ll improve blah blah which is true, but whilst we are improving everybody else will be improving just as much, it’s not us just improving whilst everybody else gets frozen in time in a stagnating mode, it’ll be a long time before we get another opportunity like we had tonight.

[minnieclaret]

Southgate has undoubtedly improved as a manager and appears to have the squad behind him. The pivot of Rice and Philips has been a major plus. Kane and Sterling both needed subbing off, for rest, late in games. DCL could have played a bigger role.
The two biggest downers for me are Stones and Maguire ******* around at the back like they are Brazilians, they aren’t. They are stoppers and that’s where it ends. I’m bricking it every time Maguire brings the ball over the halfway line.
The other is that yet again England had the lead in a big game and lost it. There are far too many of these on Southgates record.
For such a young squad the future is bright.

[Shaggy]

Penalties are a lottery, a weird dance and side foot looks brilliant if it comes off. The best penalty taker in world football had an unorthodox style aswell but it was bloody handy. Geezas toe poke and straight run up.

Personally I’m a fan of pick a side and put the laces through it.

[burnley007]

From zero to hero... Surely not

Nope.

[KRBFC]

All the pressure of a country on Sahko a 19 year old, Rashford & Sancho ...players who hardly played in the game......where were the senior players ??
Southgate ??

You can't even spell his name correctly but you expect to be taken seriously?

[KRBFC]

I just can't work out the choice of penalty takers and after they were chosen why they have to do a bloody dance before they take them. Why not just pick which side run up and put their foot through it, hope they learn from this. And if anyone should have learnt it's Southgate. Have they not practised for god sake, cos it certainly didn't look like it. Big mistake by Southgate at last hurdle in my opinion.

You realise the best penalty takers in the Premier League are Fernandes and Jorginho correct?

They don't just run up and put their foot through it.

[CoolClaret]

Bottled it again like he did against Croatia.

It was painfully obvious that Italy were gonna score - have to be pro active rather than reactive....

As for Rashford? - Big dosser

[superdimitri]

Everything about him is stellar, but his weakness in my opinion is his decision making/tactics. It doesn't matter so much in international football because if you can get the group believing, they can keep winning. Its just a shame he isn't better in all areas, since then England would probably have won.