Next chapter: Can England fly under Southgate's wings?
England bowed out of the FIFA World Cup 2018 after a 2-1 loss against Croatia in the semi-final. The slogan 'It's coming home' took a sad turn. England's dismal performances in the knock-outs, since decades, continued to haunt them. But one can see this present England team make a real name for themselves under manager Gareth Southgate. So, what next for them?
England win hearts, but miss out on the title
England won hearts with their performances, in Russia, over the last few weeks. England's modest approach should be lauded. This squad led by Harry Kane definitely managed to restore the pride of the Three Lions. This team had the firepower to go all the way and even win the title, but they faltered. Unfortunately, their play-making was missing in the second half against Croatia.
Southgate can get this young side to perform
Not all is lost for England. Southgate has shown that he can get this team to do well in the near future. This young English side can reach their true potential but for that to happen, Southgate needs to be in the thick of action. Majority of the England players are yet to reach reach their peak and Southgate can get them to shine.
Focus next on Euro 2020 and the road ahead
Southgate needs his players to move on from this loss and start preparing for the European Championship in 2020. Several players will retain their spot and the idea should be to learn from what went wrong and adapt tactically. If England can do well in the Euro 2020, then they might enter the 2022 World Cup as one of the pre-tournament favorites.
Team to revolve around Kane and Pickford
Harry Kane showed his prowess in key moments and is likely to win the Golden Boot. Choosing Kane as the captain was one of the best decisions by Southgate. Further, goal-keeper Jordan Pickford was the star of this side. In the youngster, England can be assured of a trusted figure for many years to come. We expect this young side to scale great heights!
