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

Share this article

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

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Liverpool Signs Beata Olsson from Kristianstad in Record Transfer
1 MIN READ

Liverpool Signs Beata Olsson from Kristianstad in Record Transfer

Frölunda and Färjestad Set for Exciting Women's Hockey Rivalry
3 MIN READ

Frölunda and Färjestad Set for Exciting Women's Hockey Rivalry

Slovenia vs Sweden: World Cup Qualifier Match Preview
3 MIN READ

Slovenia vs Sweden: World Cup Qualifier Match Preview

Louise Etzner Jakobsson Wins First European Championship Gold
1 MIN READ

Louise Etzner Jakobsson Wins First European Championship Gold

French Women's Boxing Team Misses World Championship Due to Late Gender Test
2 MIN READ

French Women's Boxing Team Misses World Championship Due to Late Gender Test

Roberth Björknesjö Named New Head Coach of Allsvenska Öster
1 MIN READ

Roberth Björknesjö Named New Head Coach of Allsvenska Öster

Jon Dahl Tomasson Tasked with Leading Sweden to World Championship
3 MIN READ

Jon Dahl Tomasson Tasked with Leading Sweden to World Championship

Swedish TV to Miss NFL Broadcasts This Season
1 MIN READ

Swedish TV to Miss NFL Broadcasts This Season

Christian Eriksen Trains with Malmö FF Amidst Transfer Speculation
2 MIN READ

Christian Eriksen Trains with Malmö FF Amidst Transfer Speculation

Axel Norén Joins Swedish National Team for World Cup Qualifiers
1 MIN READ

Axel Norén Joins Swedish National Team for World Cup Qualifiers

Israel-Premier Tech Urged to Withdraw from Tour of Spain for Safety
2 MIN READ

Israel-Premier Tech Urged to Withdraw from Tour of Spain for Safety

Sjöström Eyes Possible Comeback at 2026 European Championship
2 MIN READ

Sjöström Eyes Possible Comeback at 2026 European Championship

Jannik Sinner Advances to US Open Semifinals After Defeating Musetti
2 MIN READ

Jannik Sinner Advances to US Open Semifinals After Defeating Musetti

Swiatek Out of US Open as Osaka Reaches Semifinals
1 MIN READ

Swiatek Out of US Open as Osaka Reaches Semifinals

Sweden to Play Turkey in European Championship Basketball Round of 16
1 MIN READ

Sweden to Play Turkey in European Championship Basketball Round of 16

Swedish Teen Lea Nilsson Stuns Top Seed at US Open Junior
1 MIN READ

Swedish Teen Lea Nilsson Stuns Top Seed at US Open Junior

Felix Auger-Aliassime Reaches US Open Semifinals, Defeats Alex de Minaur
2 MIN READ

Felix Auger-Aliassime Reaches US Open Semifinals, Defeats Alex de Minaur

Pro-Palestinian Protests Halt Tour of Spain Stage in Bilbao
1 MIN READ

Pro-Palestinian Protests Halt Tour of Spain Stage in Bilbao

Uefa Chairman Ceferin Criticizes Politicians Over Israel Ban Debate
3 MIN READ

Uefa Chairman Ceferin Criticizes Politicians Over Israel Ban Debate

Hugo Larsson Rejects Saudi Offer After Mother's Advice
2 MIN READ

Hugo Larsson Rejects Saudi Offer After Mother's Advice