THE boos that greeted the full time whistle of England’s goalless draw with the USA reflected the mood of a fanbase ready to turn on their own team, and their own manager. Since then, though, Gareth Southgate has provided answers to the questions asked of him. Not for the first time, the 52-year-old is answering his critics. 

Even before the 2022 World Cup, Southgate was the most successful Three Lions boss since Sir Alf Ramsey. England have improved at every major tournament they have played under the former defender’s stewardship, reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020 where they lost in a penalty shootout.

And yet Southgate has been persistently targeted for his conservative style of play as well as some of his selection choices. There’s always something to hit the England manager over the head with – why isn’t James Maddison in the squad? Why is Harry Maguire still playing? Why are England so boring to watch? Why isn’t Phil Foden starting?

Southgate understands the nature of the discourse around England and has learned to manage it. He doesn’t let it distract him from his ultimate aim of guiding his team through major tournaments. If England are boring, it’s only because they were such a hot mess over a number of decades before Southgate’s appointment in 2016.

In the past, England managers have become too concerned with trying to fit all their best players into the same team without much regard for the strength of the unit as a whole – this was certainly the case for Sven-Goran Eriksson. Southgate has been wise not to fall into this trap, instead grasping how different players will be needed for different challenges at a World Cup.

Foden might not have made it off the bench against the USA, but his creativity and guile was crucial in the wins over Wales and Senegal. Freshness allowed him to perform at peak level. Jordan Henderson may not have been a universally popular pick for the round of 16, but he was key to giving England the midfield platform needed to get the best out of more attack-minded options further forward.

It might well be the case that Foden and Henderson drop back out of the team at the 2022 World Cup, but Southgate has the squad depth to ensure England can match any opponent. It’s horses for courses, and England currently have some of the best horses in international football. Southgate is also one of the best at managing his stable.

One more question will be asked of Southgate this Saturday when England face France in the World Cup quarter-finals. For all that the the last four years have been successful for the Three Lions, they have still to overcome a truly world class opponent in a major tournament. France operate at a higher level than any team England have beaten under Southgate.

“They’re world champions with an incredible depth of talent and outstanding individual players,” said Southgate when asked to assess the challenge facing his England side against the reigning world champions. “They’re very difficult to play against and score goals against, so it’s a fantastic challenge and a brilliant game to prepare for.”

Defeat to France would reopen the debate on Southgate as England manager, but he has so far earned the trust of everyone associated with the national team. Performances in Qatar have been good. England have cruised through the 2022 World Cup to date and Southgate deserves credit as the captain who has steered his side away from choppy waters.

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