Gareth Southgate and Luis de la Fuente have coached their national teams to the European Championship final despite some harsh criticism.
It's a question that has been asked in some form or another at virtually every public appearance by Gareth Southgate in recent weeks. The England coach has just achieved something historic with his team, reaching the final thanks to a 2:1 win against the Netherlands, his second European Championship in a row and the first for the Three Lions outside the United Kingdom.
As the 53-year-old took his seat on the podium inside the Dortmund stadium, the question that has haunted him every time England have progressed at this tournament came up again: How does such a success feel, especially after all the criticism in recent weeks? Southgate breathes in and out, fixes the questioner with his brown eyes and says: "You know, we all want to be loved. When you do something for your country and are a proud Englishman, it's difficult if you don't get that back and only read criticism."
Winterbottom, Ramsey, Southgate
Southgate could have boasted at that moment. He could have said that he had achieved something as a coach that no one before him had ever managed. He could have said that in Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins he had brought on the two protagonists of the late winning goal. He could have said that the critics who denounced the cautious style of play would hopefully now be quiet.
Southgate does not go for confrontation. But he does show a vulnerability that illustrates how much he invests in his job. "The only reason I took the job was to try and make England a success as a nation and improve English football," Southgate says. This is another phrase he has dictated many times at this tournament. He repeatedly emphasizes that he is concerned with sustainable development. This also means constantly integrating new players. Around half of the current European Championship squad are playing their first major tournament in Germany. "I'm very proud of what the boys have achieved so far," says Southgate.
Sunday's final in Berlin (9pm) will be his 102nd game as England coach. It is a milestone. Only Walter Winterbottom (139), England's first ever national team coach, and Alf Ramsey (113), the 1966 World Cup-winning coach, have also passed the 100-game mark.
Contract extension in prospect
When Southgate led England to the semi-finals at his first tournament, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the vest he wore to the games was a bestseller that quickly sold out at home. A good six years later, fans threw beer cups at him in Cologne after the 0-0 draw in the final European Championship group game against Slovenia.
These are episodes that show the world of extremes in which Southgate operates. Extremes that made him consider resigning several times. But now the signs are that the English FA wants to extend the collaboration until after the 2026 World Cup. No matter how the final turns out.
Two European Championship titles with the juniors
In a way, Luis de la Fuente is Gareth Southgate's brother in spirit. After all, the Spanish national team coach doesn't primarily have roses flying towards him when his team reaches the final. The 63-year-old took over the "Seleccion" after the World Cup in Qatar and led them to victory in the Nations League last year. However, this did not silence the critics. In fact, de la Fuente repeatedly had to listen to doubts about his leadership qualities because he primarily worked at junior level. "I'm an expert at dealing with criticism," he says.
He coached Spain's U19 youth team to the European Championship title in 2015 and did the same with the U21s in 2019. Rodri, Mikel Merino, Unai Simon, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo, players from the current European Championship squad, were also part of these successes and therefore have a long association with their current national coach. "We knew what diamonds in the rough we had in this team," says de la Fuente, who was also criticized for his sympathy for former association president Luis Rubiales.
He can say this with a certain amount of satisfaction, as Fabian Ruiz, Marc Cucurella, Aymeric Laporte and Lamine Yamal, whose inclusion in the European Championship squad was sometimes harshly criticized, have been important figures on the Spaniards' road to their fifth European Championship final. "The players should be held in higher esteem by the media and the fans," says de la Fuente. He does not mention himself. But if he goes down in the history books as the fourth European champion coach, a few roses are likely to fly his way.
