I don't think we give the players enough credit. Getting through due to flashes of brilliance is exactly that. Struggling to get past lesser teams is then suddenly down to Southgate. Surely the amazing pool of talent we have can use 'luck' and 'flashes of brilliance' to just glide past these teams?
The other view of it is that those teams are very well organised to sit behind the ball and make life difficult for other sides. More power to them, that's how less talented teams get further in tournaments. There's a balance to be struck of good management / coaching, and individual talent, and I believe the reason we've done so well 2 tournaments running (remember, we couldn't even get past a penalty shootout for about 15 years, now it seems routine) is a combination of the two.
sit behind the ball and make life difficult for other sides. More power to them, that's how less talented teams get further in tournaments , we doing that against lesser teams you say southgate is a great coach surely we should be beating these comfortably and not hoping for moments
being better at penalties I think thats more to do with the players who are the main penalty takers for club so have the experience think in the past they didnt tend to be the main penalty takers for club
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