LONDON, (MILLAT/APP/AFP) – After a year scarred by scandal and
sporting catastrophe, Gareth Southgate will begin his attempt to steer England into calmer waters in Wednesday’s friendly against Germany in Dortmund.
England began 2016 with a stirring 3-2 win over Germany, but they
were humiliated by Iceland at Euro 2016 before new manager Sam Allardyce was brought down by a newspaper sting after just one game in charge.
Southgate, 46, has been left to pick up the pieces and he asserted
his authority by omitting captain Wayne Rooney from his first squad, explaining that it is time for England to build for the future.
“When you’re in the role temporarily, you are always thinking, ‘Do I make decisions for the long term or do you just need points for the country?'” said Southgate, who initially replaced Allardyce on an interim basis.
“Now there’s an opportunity to put down things I think are important.
“We’ve got a clear longer-term vision of how we want to work as a
group of staff, so the last few months have been about putting that into place.”
England left Germany a year ago with confidence sky-high after goals
from Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Eric Dier saw Roy Hodgson’s men come from 2-0 down to beat the world champions 3-2 in Berlin.
Hodgson’s young team were expected to make a splash at Euro 2016 in France, but after limp group-stage draws against Russia and Slovakia, they were stunned 2-1 by Iceland in the last 16.
Hodgson’s resignation saw Allardyce handed the job he had long coveted, only for him to fall foul of undercover Daily Telegraph reporters who secretly filmed him making indiscreet comments in a hotel bar.
Enter Southgate. Promoted from his role as England under-21s coach, he was given four games to prove himself worthy of the top job.