The National Team Captain's Journey – from Hated to Beloved

England's national team captain Gareth Southgate has had an eventful European Championship. The 53-year-old has been ridiculed, laughed at and criticized. But after taking England to their second consecutive European Championship final, Southgate now looks set to become a national hero.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: July 12 2024

The National Team Captain's Journey – from Hated to Beloved
Photo: Thanassis Stavrakis

England's national team captain Gareth Southgate has had an eventful European Championship.

The 53-year-old has been ridiculed, laughed at, and criticized.

But after taking England to their second consecutive European Championship final, Southgate now looks set to become a national hero.

Criticism of Gareth Southgate during the European Championship has poured in from supporters, experts, and others around the world.

After the group stage, where England "only" took five points against Slovenia, England, and Denmark, the 53-year-old responded to the criticism for the first time, pointing out that some of it was unfair.

I've understood the narrative against me, and it's better that I hear it than it affecting the players. I haven't seen any other team get through and receive the same criticism, said Southgate at a press conference.

And even though England then advanced past both the round of 16 and the quarterfinals, the criticism continued to come against the national team captain. Something that took a toll on him.

I can't deny that it hurts when it gets as personal as it has. I don't think it's normal for people to throw beer at you.

"We all want to be loved"

But now, after the semifinal win against the Netherlands, the tone is finally starting to brighten around Gareth Southgate, who has taken England to their second consecutive European Championship final.

In fact, the Englishman may even be knighted regardless of how the final goes, writes The Telegraph.

I mean... We all want to be loved, don't we? So when you do something for your country, as a proud Englishman, and don't feel loved and all you read is criticism, it's tough. Getting to celebrate a second final is very, very special, says Southgate after the semifinal win.

Could become a national holiday

England's men's national team has not won a championship (World Championship) since 1966. In the previous European Championship final, the country came close, but lost on penalties to Italy.

If England were to win the European Championship final on Sunday, Britain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer may introduce an annual national holiday to commemorate the occasion.

I was at the previous European Championship final. I don't want to go through that again, so I don't want to jinx anything. But we should definitely commemorate the event in some way, but the most important thing is that we finish the job on Sunday, says Britain's new Prime Minister Keir Starmer at a NATO meeting in Washington, according to BBC.

The final is played on Sunday at 21.00.

Age: 53 years

Born: Watford, Hertfordshire

Achievements as a player: Two league cup wins (with Aston Villa 1996 and Middlesbrough 2004), FA Cup final and UEFA Cup final

Number of international appearances: 57 (2 goals)

Coaching assignments: Middlesbrough (2006-2009), England's U21 national team (2013-2016), England's men's national team (2016-)

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald

More news

Kristoffer Olsson Begins Training with
1 MIN READ

Kristoffer Olsson Begins Training with IFK Norrköping

Match Penalty Against Djurgården's Thoresen
1 MIN READ

Match Penalty Against Djurgården's Thoresen Overturned

Swedes Shine in Toronto's 6-2
1 MIN READ

Swedes Shine in Toronto's 6-2 Rout of Ottawa

Lindblad Claims LA Victory, Wins
2 MIN READ

Lindblad Claims LA Victory, Wins $5.4 Million Prize

Piastri Takes Jeddah Win Ahead
2 MIN READ

Piastri Takes Jeddah Win Ahead of Verstappen

Barcelona Crushes Chelsea 4-1 in
2 MIN READ

Barcelona Crushes Chelsea 4-1 in Champions League Semifinal

Billborn Fumes: "Even in Division
3 MIN READ

Billborn Fumes: "Even in Division 7, That's Unacceptable"

Arsenal Delays Liverpool's Title Celebration
2 MIN READ

Arsenal Delays Liverpool's Title Celebration

Celina's Classy Goal Secures AIK's
2 MIN READ

Celina's Classy Goal Secures AIK's Top Spot in Allsvenskan

Djurgården's Fallenius Out for Spring
1 MIN READ

Djurgården's Fallenius Out for Spring Season with Fracture

Fleury Praises Gustavsson's Cool Composure
3 MIN READ

Fleury Praises Gustavsson's Cool Composure as Minnesota's Top Goalie

Sabalenka Warned for Taking Photo
1 MIN READ

Sabalenka Warned for Taking Photo During Dispute with Umpire

Ingrid Lindblad Tied for First
2 MIN READ

Ingrid Lindblad Tied for First in Thrilling LPGA Tournament Battle

Swedish Players Shine in Stanley
1 MIN READ

Swedish Players Shine in Stanley Cup Opener Despite St Louis Loss

Verstappen Secures Pole in Jeddah
1 MIN READ

Verstappen Secures Pole in Jeddah After Norris Crash

Isak Struggles as Newcastle Falls
1 MIN READ

Isak Struggles as Newcastle Falls 4-1 to Aston Villa

Brynäs Edges Luleå in Overtime
2 MIN READ

Brynäs Edges Luleå in Overtime Thriller to Lead Championship Series

Rangers and Anaheim Dismiss Head
1 MIN READ

Rangers and Anaheim Dismiss Head Coaches After Missing Playoffs

Norrköping's Quickfire Goals Secure Crucial
2 MIN READ

Norrköping's Quickfire Goals Secure Crucial Win Over Halmstad

Felicia Schröder Shines as Häcken
2 MIN READ

Felicia Schröder Shines as Häcken Secures Second Consecutive Victory

Lyon Edges Arsenal 2-1, Eyes
2 MIN READ

Lyon Edges Arsenal 2-1, Eyes 12th Champions League Final

Tuva Skoog Shines with Two
1 MIN READ

Tuva Skoog Shines with Two Goals in Malmö FF's 4-1 Victory Over AIK

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice
1 MIN READ

Sweden Takes Sixth in Ice Hockey World Championship After Close Loss

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels
1 MIN READ

Marcus Kinhult's Birdie Blitz Propels Him Up 39 Spots in Shanghai

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out
1 MIN READ

AIK's Christoffer Björk Likely Out for Season After Knee Injury

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach
1 MIN READ

Andreas Johansson Named Head Coach of Södertälje Sports Club

Robots Struggle in First Human
1 MIN READ

Robots Struggle in First Human vs. Machine Half-Marathon in Beijing

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's
2 MIN READ

Casper Ruud Applauds Victor Hedman's Leadership in Tampa Bay

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with
1 MIN READ

Miami Secures Playoff Spot with Overtime Win Over Atlanta

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best
2 MIN READ

Ingrid Lindblad Shines with Career-Best Round at LPGA in Los Angeles

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's
1 MIN READ

Gyökeres Hat-Trick Secures Sporting Lisbon's Lead Over Moreirense

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve
2 MIN READ

Elias Pettersson Urged to Improve Training by Canucks Coach Tocchet

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits
1 MIN READ

Swedish Beach Volleyball Duo Exits World Championship in Brazil

Dallas Stars Face Playoffs Without
1 MIN READ

Dallas Stars Face Playoffs Without Top Scorer Jason Robertson

Ludvig Åberg Struggles to Find
1 MIN READ

Ludvig Åberg Struggles to Find Form at RBC Heritage

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward
2 MIN READ

Djurgården's Grewe Criticizes AIK Forward for Alleged Spearing Incident