Euro 2024: England manager Gareth Southgate using ‘personal’ criticism as ‘fuel’ - ‘I don’t think it’s normal’

England manager Gareth Southgate has come in for sustained criticism at Euro 2024 in Germany after his side struggled to find their best form in the group stages, before almost being knocked out by Slovakia, and then beating Switzerland on penalties in the quarter-finals. Speaking ahead of Wednesday's semi with the Netherlands, he said he was using words from critics as motivation.

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Video credit: SNTV

England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted that he is affected by “personal” criticism but claimed that he is using it “as fuel” at Euro 2024.

Southgate’s side beat Switzerland on penalties in the quarter-finals on Saturday, setting up a semi-final with the Netherlands on Wednesday.

It was the second knockout match in which they trailed, and the side have won just one match in regular time so far in Germany.

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The group stage started relatively well with a win over Serbia, but draws followed against Denmark and then Slovenia, and the knockout round win over Slovakia came in extra-time after trailing for most of the match.

With players such as Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham failing to sparkle as they do for their clubs, and questions over his tactical choices, Southgate has come in for criticism from fans and pundits.

Things got so bad that beer cups were thrown at him by sections of English fans following the 0-0 draw with Slovenia.

Southgate has responded to the criticism at a press conference.

“I can’t deny that some of the personal nature, you know...,” he said. “This is a job where you get ridiculed, and your professional capability is questioned beyond belief, and I don’t think it’s normal to have beer thrown at you either.

“But I’m fortunate that my life’s taken me through a lot of resilience-building and it’s made me more determined and I’m just using it as fuel. I know where I want to take the team to. The team need to see me strong in those moments as well, otherwise that messaging that you’re giving them on what they need to be, it doesn’t ring true.”

Under Southgate, England have reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the quarter-finals of the 2022 tournament, and lost on penalties to Italy in the final of Euro 2020.

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Looking ahead, Southgate added: “The difference is we arrive in a quarter-final, we’re not satisfied with that, so there is definitely a mindset shift in what we feel is acceptable as a team.

“Within that it’s knockout football. The margins are so fine. That can easily tip the other way and it’s a different story but those teams that have won consistently, they have that mindset, they’re not just satisfied with being in quarter-finals, they’re pushing on and that’s what we have to continue. This isn’t where we want it to end.”

While England have not been at their entertaining best, Southgate is impressed with the mental strength shown by his players throughout a tough tournament so far.

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“These guys, they’ve shown more than being able to just play,” he said. “Navigating tournaments, you need lots of other qualities. It is that resilience, it is that ability to stay composed when you go behind in games, or when momentum’s against you, [we’ve] won three penalty shoot-outs out of four. All those little bits build character, build belief.

“There’s this tournament, but given the age of the squad and their experiences now, they’ll have that belief for a long time. It should put England in a good place, but that’s the future – we’ve got a good week ahead of us.”

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