Being an England fan must be what it is like being a Spurs fan.
The complete lack of national success in my lifetime is the only thing missing from my love of football.
Arsenal have provided my more success in my 39 years than most fans will experience in their lifetimes. And I have been there in the ground to see much of it. When it comes to England, before the Southgate-era the only thing I really had was Euro 96 and lots of penalty shoot out disappointment.
In four tournaments under Southgate, we have now made 2 finals and 3 semi finals. Only in 2022 did we fail to get past the quarter finals, losing to eventual champions France in the quarters.
Whilst Southgate has “achieved” more than any England manager other than Sir Alf Ramsey, I do not really class his era as a huge success.
Southgate is a poor manager and England’s progress deep in tournaments is due to the layers rather than him. And every time we have come up against a team that has equivalent players to us, he has been found wanting.
In 2018, we were beaten by Croatia in the semi-final despite taking the lead. We then lost to Belgium in the pointless 3rd/4th play off. Belgium also beat us in the group stages. Panama, Tunisia, Columbia and Sweden were the only names we beat in that competition.
That Croatia result would typify my issue with Southgate – take the lead, sit back trying to defend it and lose. And that is what happened 3 years later at Euro 2021.
Everything should have been in England’s favour in our first national final since 1966. We were playing at Wembley, against an ageing Italy team and went 1-nil up after 2 minutes. A better manager, with a team playing front foot football, would have looked to dominate the game and win at a canter.
Southgate’s England sat back, conceded and then played for penalties.
The fact that, against a slow, ageing defence, Southgate failed to bring on Jadon Sancho or Marcus Rashford until the 120th minute shows his issue as manager. He was aiming to not lose in extra time rather than win. Had he had the balls and replaced Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling with Rashford and Sancho, I am sure we would have won. Italy would not have been able to cope with their pace and fresh legs.
Ultimately, Italy won because they had the better manager (Roberto Mancini).
And it was de ja vu in 2022 as England beat Iran, Wales and Senegal (drawing with USA), before losing to the first decent team we faced. Once again, Southgate was outclassed by his opposition manager – Didier Deschamps.
Despite having a wealth of talent capable of winning the game on his bench, Southgate kept up his policy of not making subs and looking to not lose the game. It was only after France went 1-nil up with 11 minutes to go that Southgate made a sub – Sterling for Bukayo Saka.
In the 85h minute he finally got Rashford on the pitch, and his final sub happened ithe 98th minute (Jack Grealish for John Stones).
This tournament has been very much in the mold of those previous – England playing uninspiring football against teams we should beat, with Southgate setting his team up negatively and failing to make pro-active changes.
We have somehow got to the final. Although we have had a huge assist by being on the easiest side of the draw.
Whilst Spain have faced Italy, Germany, France, Croatia and Albania, we have played Netherland, Switzerland, Slovakia, Serbia, Slovenia and Denmark. the runs are simply not comparable.
Today I am filled with hope just like I was back in 2023. But I have nagging feeling we will l fail once more. And for one evening at least I will feel like a Spurs fan.
Enjoy the game wherever you are watching. Look after your mates. And if we win, enjoy your celebrations.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
spurs have won allot more than england to be fair, in the 60s 70s and 80s they won more trophies than us
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