![Gareth Southgate takes off Harry Kane against Netherlands](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/football/2024/07/10/TELEMMGLPICT000385141312_17206502515760_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqjYhR_zPGtOXeDioyLaEvFTHZHYWBFzixpTGl2MoejA0.jpeg?imwidth=680)
![Gareth Southgate takes off Harry Kane against Netherlands](/https/www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/football/2024/07/10/TELEMMGLPICT000385141312_17206502515760_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqjYhR_zPGtOXeDioyLaEvFTHZHYWBFzixpTGl2MoejA0.jpeg?imwidth=680)
Three years ago, Gareth Southgate failed to make the change that could have won England the European Championship. On Wednesday night in Dortmund, he made one that may reverberate through the country’s football history.
Southgate’s journey as England manager can be encapsulated by these two moments, the first when he failed to substitute Harry Kane and the second when he did.
There was a period during the semi-final when all I could think about was the 2021 final against Italy. That night at Wembley, one of the reasons England lost was because Southgate had to replace Kane with a striker with more pace and energy – what the modern coaches like to call a “finisher”.
Many people analysed the Italy game and argued the defeat was because of negativity. It wasn’t. England’s strategy was fine, but the players could not execute it because Kane was unable to expose Italy on the counter-attack.
The echoes against the Dutch were eerie, heading towards the climax. Before Ollie Watkins’ winner, the match was almost a mirror image.
On both occasions, England had made the better start.
On both occasions, the opposition manager was forced to rip up plan A and make a tactical change.
On both occasions, the opposition’s changes were effective and it looked like Southgate was failing to react to the challenge posed by his coaching rival.
Then we saw the difference between the Southgate of 2021 and the Southgate of 2024.
Watkins’ introduction won England the match. Kane would not have been able to score such a goal, as Watkins was occupying that space on the shoulder of the last defender and using his pace to stretch the Dutch defence. Kane was playing much deeper.
Nobody can say Southgate lacks courage now.
There will be plenty applying retrospective wisdom and saying it was obvious he should have taken Kane off. When you are the England manager facing the prospect of extra time, it is not such a straightforward decision.
You have to think long and hard before subbing the England captain, the nation’s record goalscorer, and a player who usually only needs one chance to change the game.
Subbing Kane was necessary but it was also brave.
We all know Southgate is a coach who likes to let the game ride before acting. There are times when it seems like he is leaving it too late. He is justified in asking the critics to put emotion to one side and check out the results. When late goals become a habit after changes in personnel, the accusations of luck lose their credibility.
England proved to be superior to Holland on the pitch and in the dugout. The biggest compliment to the players and coaching staff was the haste with which Ronald Koeman had to change tactics and personnel.
Southgate, as one of the architects of England’s rethink of our football over three decades, deserves credit for that. Although there has been some reminiscing about the victory over Holland at Euro 96, that was not typical of the national team during that era.
Rewind to the darker times and the momentum of the semi-final would have been reversed. The Dutch had the players with the technique, coached to retain possession, while England’s players were encouraged to nullify superior teams.
The evolution of our academy system began to change perceptions of English football, and Southgate championed that when managing at a younger level. Whatever the outcome had been in Germany, the fruits of those labours were visible.
Now assessments of England’s performances at the tournament will be reconsidered. There is merit to the argument that our players better against sides that want to “have a go” instead of sitting back and inviting pressure.
For all the criticisms of early games – a lot of it fair – no side has hurt England defensively. Holland did not have the quality to do so and England were never pinned back and made to resist prolonged periods of pressure.
Of course, that might change on Sunday when England face their biggest test against Spain. Some will say that superior opponents will expose flaws that were obvious in earlier games. On the evidence of the semi-final, we should not be so sure.
There are two Englands in this Euros. There is the team that struggles against low-block defences and the one that thrives if given the time and space to express itself.
Spain will not be defending. That makes for an exciting prospect, because the likes of Phil Foden are getting better with every match.
What is particularly reassuring is that these England players have demonstrated they have the winning mentality necessary to go all the way.
There was an air of triumphalism across the nation after the penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland. That will be amplified now England are in the final.
For the players and manager, it will not be enough. In Spain, they are facing opponents who care only about taking the trophy home. They will take no consolation from losing a final. Over the past 23 years, Spanish sides have played 22 major finals outside Spain. They have won every one. Second is not an option.
Now the same applies to England. They have timed their form to perfection and can win it. Southgate deserves plenty of the credit.
All managers can make mistakes. What is essential is that they do not make the same one twice. Southgate has learnt his lessons and England may reap the reward of a major tournament win.
Some thought Gareth Southgate lacked courage – substituting Harry Kane proved them wrong
Replacing Harry Kane with Ollie Watkins showed that the England manager has learnt from his mistakes