• Latest
  • Trending

Believe the hype, England: Southgate has a team that’s built for the next level

27th March 2019
Vermeulen back as Malherbe earns 50th Bok cap

Vermeulen back as Malherbe earns 50th Bok cap

9th August 2022
PLAYER RATINGS: Springboks vs All Blacks | Test 1 – VOTE NOW

PLAYER RATINGS: Springboks vs All Blacks | Test 1 – VOTE NOW

6th August 2022
Gardner & Pearce to blow Boks vs All Blacks

Gardner & Pearce to blow Boks vs All Blacks

21st July 2022
Soyizwapi, Plaatjies to lead SA Sevens teams at Commonwealth Games

Soyizwapi, Plaatjies to lead SA Sevens teams at Commonwealth Games

21st July 2022
Nortje says Proteas going for “the win and the kill”

Nortje says Proteas going for “the win and the kill”

21st July 2022
Proteas women lose two for England T20I series

Proteas Women lose Kapp & Sekhukhune for T20 series

21st July 2022
SA u19 Women win first warm-up encounter

SA u19 Women win first warm-up encounter

16th July 2022
WATCH: Junior Springboks vs Wales U20 Live

WATCH: Junior Springboks vs Wales U20 Live

12th July 2022
Milestones for Etzebeth, Mbonambi as Nienaber makes changes for Wales decider

Milestones for Etzebeth, Mbonambi as Nienaber makes changes for Wales decider

12th July 2022
SPRINGBOK-TEAM-ANNOUNCEMENT-Live-Reaction-Show-Forever-Rugby

SPRINGBOK TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT! | Live Reaction Show | Forever Rugby

BOK-B-TEAM-READY-TO-MAKE-THEIR-MARK-Rugby-News-Live-Forever-Rugby

BOK ‘B TEAM’ READY TO MAKE THEIR MARK! | Rugby News Live | Forever Rugby

TIME-TO-SACK-THE-SPRINGBOK-COACHES-Rugby-News-Live-Show-Forever-Rugby

TIME TO SACK THE SPRINGBOK COACHES? | Rugby News Live Show | Forever Rugby

  • Home
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Rugby
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
  • Login
Forever Sports
  • Home
  • Cricket
  • Football
    Moldova-vs-Kazakhstan-Live-Stream-Nations-League

    Moldova vs Kazakhstan Live Stream | Nations League

    by Staff Writer

    General

    • Betting
    • Highlights
    • Match Centre
    • Transfer Centre
    • Writers Columns

    United Kingdom

    • Premier League
    • English FA Cup
    • English League Cup
    • Scottish League

    European

    • Champions League
    • Europa League
    • Bundesliga
    • La Liga
    • Ligue 1
    • Serie A

    International

    Other

    • PSL
  • Rugby
    PLAYER RATINGS: Springboks vs All Blacks | Test 1 – VOTE NOW
    Rugby Player Ratings

    PLAYER RATINGS: Springboks vs All Blacks | Test 1 – VOTE NOW

    by Staff Writer
    6th August 2022

    General

    • Betting
    • Highlights
    • Match Centre

    Club | Franchise

    • Currie Cup
    • European Rugby Champions Cup
    • Pro14
    • Rainbow Cup
    • Rugby Premiership
    • Super Rugby

    International

    • British and Irish Lions
    • Rugby Championship
    • Rugby Sevens
    • Six Nations

    Other

    • Craven Week
    • Varsity Cup
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Cricket
  • Football
    Moldova-vs-Kazakhstan-Live-Stream-Nations-League

    Moldova vs Kazakhstan Live Stream | Nations League

    by Staff Writer

    General

    • Betting
    • Highlights
    • Match Centre
    • Transfer Centre
    • Writers Columns

    United Kingdom

    • Premier League
    • English FA Cup
    • English League Cup
    • Scottish League

    European

    • Champions League
    • Europa League
    • Bundesliga
    • La Liga
    • Ligue 1
    • Serie A

    International

    Other

    • PSL
  • Rugby
    PLAYER RATINGS: Springboks vs All Blacks | Test 1 – VOTE NOW
    Rugby Player Ratings

    PLAYER RATINGS: Springboks vs All Blacks | Test 1 – VOTE NOW

    by Staff Writer
    6th August 2022

    General

    • Betting
    • Highlights
    • Match Centre

    Club | Franchise

    • Currie Cup
    • European Rugby Champions Cup
    • Pro14
    • Rainbow Cup
    • Rugby Premiership
    • Super Rugby

    International

    • British and Irish Lions
    • Rugby Championship
    • Rugby Sevens
    • Six Nations

    Other

    • Craven Week
    • Varsity Cup
No Result
View All Result
Forever Sports
No Result
View All Result
Home Football

Believe the hype, England: Southgate has a team that’s built for the next level

Takudzwa Chikonzo by Takudzwa Chikonzo
27th March 2019
in Football, International Football
235 17
0
491
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

As Jadon Sancho broke behind the Czech Republic rear-guard from Harry Kane’s through ball in the 24th minute, it was only fitting that the one player worthy of finishing that beautiful move off, the one player revelling in the role of mascot for England’s bright and buzzing potential, had a groovy low-top fade to match his man-of-the-match award.

Embed from Getty Images

Raheem Sterling is his own man, aware of who he is and what he can do – a potential symbol of what this team could be all about.

In their 5-0 win over their Czech opposition at a bouncy and attentive Wembley Stadium, everything Sterling touched turned to English delight. His hat-trick and overall performance were met with glowing words from Gareth Southgate saying, “Raheem was brilliant, electric all night. He’s looked that all week in training, involved in four of the goals, and I’m really pleased for him. It’s a special night for him.”

Embed from Getty Images

His teammates rode the wave of their collective progress so far, and even though they had to manufacture a workman-like performance before the floodgates finally opened, this will do them no harm.

And although this may not have been a proper examination of their credentials, it showed us that there may be more to this team than what meets the eye. The Czech Republic should be the most difficult opponents England face – they are in a group that includes Bulgaria, Kosovo and Montenegro – so to see them win like this must be scary for those that feel that there is more here.

That, for Southgate, should be the most important conclusion. Whisper it to your mom or shout it out in Biology class on Monday morning – this is a team made to play in a progressive, evolved way.

The starting line-up alone had players plying their trade at teams that are either thriving under managers who see football as a high-pressing, lung-busting industry, or those that are striving to be more than what they currently are.

Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Maurizio Sarri and Mauricio Pochettino, Marco Silva, Brendan Rodgers – all aiming to lead the way for the progressive men of our era, and all seen in the players that they manage and coach week in, week out, bringing Southgate’s ideas to life.

Embed from Getty Images

Believe the hype, England. There seems to be something here that’s tangible and hard to disprove when you look at recent results at home to Croatia and away to Spain or clinching fourth place at the World Cup last summer.

And who would’ve thought that Southgate was the man made for this challenge? From those modest, humble beginnings at Middlesbrough to where we are now, it’s been a kick to the teeth for those that may have doubted his appointment in 2016.

What we must be careful of, however, is making more of what’s there, to take this hype and belief and conclude that this is a team that will go on to conquer all that lie in wait. To over-hype and stretch that belief a little too far would taint the good work that Southgate has done over the last year.

Remember the “golden generation” of Terry and Ferdinand, and Lampard and Scholes, and Gerrard and Cole? The same players who struggled under the weight of that gold standard, sprinkles of which seem to haunt them till this very day?

Embed from Getty Images

It’s hard to believe that this team will suffer the same sort of death by stardust and over-confidence – there is a vibrant cohesion here that didn’t seem to click with those that played before them. Sancho and Sterling provided the x-factor to compliment Kane’s all-round centre forward play. Ben Chilwell and Kyle Walker played supporting roles from their defensive base, and Jordan Henderson was energetic and enthusiastic in midfield.

With the three-at-the-back blueprint folded away neatly somewhere in Southgate’s office desk at St. George’s Park, the team has now settled in a fluid 4-3-3 formation that offers the wide men the chance to either roam across the front-line or hold their width, and the central midfielders to break into the box and beyond the centre forward.

It all points to an era of flexibility and depth in available options and naturally, the questions will move on from, “How can we?” to, “When can we?” Southgate knows that all this work must culminate into something tangible and real, that this journey must take them to a place long believed to be just a distant memory. Since the hay days of 1966, the

Embed from Getty Images

And with Euro 2020 on the horizon, which Southgate would expect to qualify for, it’s hard to think that the next step isn’t around the corner.

If this performance is anything to go by, whilst missing the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and John Stones, then England could be living at a time when the next level is a necessary and realistic destination. Southgate needs to find a way to manage the hype.

Tags: England FootballEngland Football ReportTakudzwa Chikonzo

Member Login

REGISTER NOW

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Forever Sports © 2021

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Rugby

Forever Sports © 2021

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist