sport news Gareth Southgate must nail it in the San Siro to stop the rot trends now
The last time an England team went five games without winning was in 2014. Tonight would be a bad time to match that record.
Roy Hodgson was the manager eight years ago. Three of those poor results, two defeats and a draw, came in the group stages of the World Cup in Brazil, meaning that England went home early.
On Friday in Milan, Gareth Southgate is in the final throes of preparing for another World Cup, his second as England manager.
Gareth Southgate's England side are desperate for a victory and are winless in four matches
The Three Lions face Italy and Germany in the Nations league this week and could be relegated
Form has deserted his team at the wrong time and were they to lose to Roberto Mancini’s side at the San Siro, England would be relegated from the top tier of the Nations League and, more importantly, have only Monday’s home fixture with Germany to restore some kind of confidence ahead of the important business in Qatar that starts in late November.
Southgate was booed and heckled as his team lost 4-0 at home to Hungary in Wolverhampton in June. Prior to that, England had lost in Budapest and drawn with Italy at home and Germany in Munich. During all of that they scored one goal, a penalty.
It has been a drop off in form that did not seem likely as England breezed through World Cup qualifying in the months that followed their defeat on penalties by Italy in the final of Euro 2020 last year.
England were humiliated when they lost 4-0 to Hungary in their most recent game in June
Reflecting on all this at the team hotel a long goal kick from the San Siro, Southgate did not attempt to step away from his own role in what has happened.
‘We were 22 games without a loss and you think that’s just going to continue and maybe you are not quite as ruthless in certain decision making,’ said Southgate. ‘I compromised certain decisions and you don’t win if you compromise.
‘We are very clear on why those things happened and what needs to happen to put things right. I am not saying I was too comfortable. But generally at times when you are on a big run you don’t dig as deep into what could be ahead and what could go wrong.
‘The summer was really complicated. Two games behind closed
