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England’s reunion with Iceland four years after Euro 2016 offers Gareth Southgate a chance to reflect
To this day, four years after the lowest night in English history, the mere pronunciation of the word Iceland sends shivers down the spines of Three Lions.
The humiliating and abject exit from Euro 2016, the celebratory Icelandic ‘Thunder Clap’ and the resignation of Roy Hodgson threatened to mark the next generation of England before their international careers took off, but then Gareth Southgate appeared.
Iceland vs England
September 5, 2020, 4:30 pm
To live 
With the national team at an all-time low, Southgate’s promotion to England coach was meant to stabilize the ship, but over the next four years he has been the architect of generational highs, that is, guiding the team to the semi-finals of 2018. World Cup in Russia.
Speaking ahead of England’s meeting with Iceland in Saturday’s Nations League opener, live Soccer Sky Sports, Southgate reflected on the events in Nice in 2016 and how far England has come under his watch.
“The biggest assessment I took from that night was that the young players weren’t as patient as we needed when the ball was pressed on them,” he said exclusively. Sky Sports.
England’s starting XI for the Euro 2016 match with Iceland
“You could see the correct decision making disappear as the night progressed; people shooting off balance or not in the correct positions. You have to have, and we have begun to be, more patient.
“There were a lot of inexperienced players on that team, Roy blood players like Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling. At that stage those guys were young in their international careers and they were also learning in their club careers.
“Little by little they have started to win things with their clubs, so their confidence levels are higher, and we have had a good two or three years with England, where the players that have entered have won at the youth level.
“We’ve built faith and rebuilt that connection with the fans, which is so important. When I see the quality of the young players coming into the team, it’s really exciting.”
0:54 England captain Harry Kane says he has learned from his embarrassing Euro 2016 loss to Iceland and the team has improved over the past four years.
‘You can’t waste a day’ – Southgate reflects at 50
While the fallout from Euro 2016 was seismic, they pale to insignificance compared to the events of 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic stopped not just football, but the entire world.
It’s been almost 10 months since England last took the field and Saturday’s trip to Reykjavik could have been the first outing for the newly crowned Southgate European champions, if Euro 2020 had not been postponed for a year.
Southgate turned 50 on September 3 and that personal milestone, coupled with the suffering that has taken over the world, has brought the opportunity presented to him and his England players in sharp focus. It is one that tries to take over.
“I was happy and depressed in equal measure to reach that milestone,” added Southgate.
Southgate replaced Roy Hodgson after Euro 2016
“My biggest reflection during the summer, when you saw how people were affected and the reality of how life can go so fast, was that you can’t miss a day, you have to accept it and make the most of every challenge. It has been the most important thing. in my mind for the last few months.
“When you are a coach, coach or leader of any sports team, you are constantly looking for ways to improve.
“The most important thing for me is hunger, because we lost six months of our careers. It made me realize that these opportunities can pass so quickly and that I didn’t want to waste these opportunities to be successful and improve the team.
“The same goes for the players, their international careers and the opportunity to play for England will pass very quickly so we have to maximize it.
“We are moving towards the big goal next summer [Euro 2021]But in the games ahead we have a chance to win a Nations League and a chance to play some of the best teams in the fall.
“We have to make sure we get the most out of each camp and make sure we are working at the highest level.”
Fresh faces in England fold
0:36 England manager Gareth Southgate says he would not hesitate to give Phil Foden and Mason Greenwood senior debuts against Iceland or Denmark based on what he has seen in practice.
England’s return has provided Southgate with the opportunity to give new faces valuable exposure to senior international football, with players like Jack Grealish, Mason Greenwood, Phil Foden, Conor Coady and Ainsley Maitland-Niles winning their first calls.
It’s an experience that Southgate, who made his England debut against Portugal in 1995, remembers fondly.
“I remember walking into my hotel room and putting on my training gear the first time I worked for England,” he recalled.
0:49 Jack Grealish admits he was devastated that he was not included for England teams in the past, but says he is now over the moon to be selected and sees it ‘as a test’
“I remember looking in the mirror, looking at the plate and thinking about everything that had happened to get there, so I know exactly how they feel, how their families feel, the coaches and school teachers who trained them when they were little, everyone, feel.
“I hear a lot of nonsense about international football compared to a club. Representing your country in any sport at the international level is the highest accolade and achievement.
“That has been emphasized when we speak this week, it is emphasized by the commitment of the players who have been with us regularly and want to be with us this week. That is always refreshing.
“We have brought in good quality players who join the competition for venues and increase the level of training.”
‘I had to do the right thing for Maguire’
0:51 Gareth Southgate plans to bring Harry Maguire back to England’s configuration next month after having removed the defender from this team following his case in Greek court.
Southgate’s difficult task of managing England’s League of Nations campaign in a post-closure world took on additional complexity in the wake of the Harry Maguire incident on the Greek island of Mykonos.
The Manchester United defender was inducted into Southgate’s starting squad despite his ongoing trial for assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery.
Maguire was ultimately removed after being convicted and sentenced to a 21-month suspended prison sentence, a verdict he will dispute in a retrial, but Southgate stands by his decision to publicly support his player, who maintains his innocence.
“Everybody knows now what I knew then, and that this was a much more complicated situation than was initially reported,” he said. “It was important to support the player.
“Having spoken to the player, I knew what had happened and had absolutely no reason to leave him out. I knew we ran the risk of having to shut him out later that day due to the trial date, but as far as I’m concerned worried, I had to do the right thing on the player’s part.
“He has had an incredible experience, the first four days of vacation and then the 10, dealing with life-changing experiences. He will be stronger for those experiences.
“But he needs a break now, he needs to relax and walk away. I think he needed that switch and he will be able to go back to his club, and we would definitely be looking to get him involved in October.”
How to watch Nations League on Sky Sports
You can watch all 162 Nations League matches live on Sky Sports, plus the semi-finals, third place play-off and final. The games will be shown on our main channels and via the red button.
You can see Iceland vs England at the Sky Sports and Soccer Main Event on Saturday, and Denmark vs England on the same channels on Tuesday.
Wales vs Bulgaria and Republic of Ireland vs Finland on Sunday it will be shown on both Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.
Czech Republic vs Scotland and Northern Ireland vs Norway will be shown on Monday.
For a full rundown of Nations League matches and where to watch them on Sky Sports, head over to our matches page.
If you’re away from home, you can follow all those Home Nations games on the Sky Sports website and app, where we’ll have minute-by-minute updates and show you the goals as they go.
We will also have the highlights of all the matches involving the local nations and the best of the other Nations League matches available as well.
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