Southgate has suffered - but next few days will define legacy

As he prepares for England's Euro 2024 semi-final pinch nan Netherlands successful Dortmund, head Gareth Southgate faces nan days that will specify his legacy.

He has knowledgeable a wide scope of emotions successful Germany. From hostility and brew thrown astatine him pursuing their tie pinch Slovenia successful Cologne, to dancing successful beforehand of jubilant fans aft nan quarter-final triumph connected penalties against Switzerland successful Dusseldorf.

There is simply a increasing belief Southgate's 8 years successful complaint will travel to an extremity aft Euro 2024, whether that is pursuing Wednesday's gathering pinch nan Dutch aliases a last against Spain successful Berlin connected Sunday.

England's performances person been indifferent, but a operation of steely resilience and individual brilliance has placed them successful nan past 4 pinch nan tantalising imaginable of 2 contrasting conclusions to nan tournament, and possibly to Southgate's tenure.

If England assistance nan trophy astatine nan Olympiastadion connected Sunday, Southgate will spell down successful history, aft 1966 World Cup victor Sir Alf Ramsey, arsenic only nan 2nd head to lead nan men's squad to occurrence astatine a awesome tournament.

If his broadside spell retired to nan Dutch, Southgate will beryllium nan head who consistently led his squad into what had been alien territory for truthful long, namely nan second stages of awesome tournaments, but could not rather get them complete nan statement for nan eventual triumph.

England victories against nan Netherlands and Spain would present Southgate's definitive reply to questions astir his strategies and perceived blimpish approach, which person shrouded his 8 years contempt an unprecedented grounds of starring them to 3 semi-finals and a last - nan Wembley nonaccomplishment connected penalties to Italy astatine Euro 2020.

The caveat to each this is England person grounded to clear nan last hurdle, which is why truthful overmuch rests connected events astatine Westfalenstadion connected Wednesday.

Southgate has suffered astatine times successful Germany, his sound faltering and hesitant erstwhile asked by BBC 5 Live Sport whether he was wounded by nan disapproval aft nan Slovenia encounter.

He visibly bristled erstwhile questioned astir whether England had landed successful nan much favourable half of nan draw, labelling it "a classical illustration of nan entitlement we person arsenic a federation that creates play and annoys our opponents".

He has not mislaid his composure publicly, but location has been an separator and angst to Southgate that has not been coming astatine different tournaments. It is clear nan disapproval has wounded him.

"This is simply a occupation wherever you get bullied and your master capacity is questioned beyond belief," he said. "I don't deliberation it's normal to person brew thrown astatine you either, but my life's taken maine done a batch of resilience and it's made maine much determined. I'm conscionable utilizing it arsenic fuel."

England did, aft all, triumph Group C almost successful spite of themselves. The mini number of group hurling brew behaved unacceptably and lacked successful nan respect Southgate is due.

His delight astatine flipping nan angry guidance connected its caput pinch nan triumph against Switzerland was made plain by his impromptu jig successful beforehand of fans who had turned connected England and nan head during and aft their group-game draws against Denmark and Slovenia.

Southgate besides complained astir nan media - purely doing its occupation to pass and not successful attendance astatine Euro 2024 arsenic cheerleaders - for revealing changes successful statement earlier nan Switzerland game, referring "our ain media leaking tactical accusation 2 hours aft we've walked disconnected nan training pitch".

This, much than anything, hints astatine an England campy that had not been arsenic tight arsenic astatine erstwhile tournaments and appeared, astatine times, to beryllium flat, successful nan early portion of Euro 2024 astatine least.

For each that, nan Three Lions are successful nan semi-final pinch a chance for Southgate and his players to constitute a glorious caller section successful their sporting history.

He trim a relaxed fig successful his media briefing astatine Westfalenstadion, suggesting location was a different temper and thrust astir nan squad arsenic they person progressed done Euro 2024.

Southgate said: "One of our strengths complete nan years has been having little fear, showing little inhibition but, astatine nan opening of nan tournament, nan anticipation weighed heavy and nan sound from extracurricular had ne'er been louder. We couldn't rather get ourselves successful nan correct place.

"Now it's astir what is imaginable and not what mightiness spell wrong. This is now nan chance to make history. We are trying to break caller crushed and that is not easy but nan players person been resilient."

The head has had praise for his activity too, arsenic erstwhile England striker Chris Sutton told BBC 5 Live Sport aft they reached nan past four: "Gareth Southgate has proved a hellhole of a batch of group incorrect astatine this tournament. I'm delighted for him. Gareth talked astir brew being thrown astatine him successful definite games and what person you... that is not nan measurement to dainty an England manager.

"You deliberation astir his grounds arsenic England manager. Out of nan past 4 tournaments, 3 semi-finals and a quarter-final, pinch a last successful location arsenic well. You person group saying he's not an inventive head and he's a mediocre manager, he's done it again. Gareth South-great."

England look an aged adversary successful Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman, who played successful their 3-1 triumph complete Sir Bobby Robson's broadside successful nan 1988 European Championship successful Dusseldorf, but was besides an infamous fig for his portion successful a World Cup qualifier betwixt nan sides successful October 1993.

Koeman dragged David Platt backmost erstwhile he was cleanable done pinch nan scoreline goalless, escaped pinch only a yellowish card, past scored a free-kick 5 minutes later arsenic England - needing conscionable a constituent to suffice for nan 1994 finals - went down to a damaging 2-0 defeat. He had vanished his world profession earlier England's stunning 4-1 Wembley triumph astatine Euro '96.

In his 2nd spell successful charge, Koeman has led nan Netherlands into nan semi-final and looking progressively assured and dangerous, having recovered from a 3-2 nonaccomplishment to Austria successful nan group stage. They will coming a stern examination.

But England and Southgate find themselves 2 games from history.

And nan history books would simply grounds England's accomplishment - not really they played to constitute that caller chapter.

It will either extremity pinch Euro 2024 glory aliases different bitter disappointment of Southgate and his squad falling short erstwhile more. This overmuch goes connected nan statement successful Dortmund.