England fans are losing enthusiasm for Gareth Southgate, who was once considered a unifying force

England manager Gareth Southgate during a training session at the Spa & Golf Resort Weimarer Land in Blankenhain, Germany, Saturday, June 29, 2024. Gareth Southgate was credited with making England fans fall in love with their national football team again. Now many are turning away from him. Southgate has been largely a unifying force for the national team during a time of upheaval and uncertainty in English politics and culture, but after nearly eight years and four major tournaments, the European Championships appears to signal a change in opinion towards him. (Adam Davy/PA via AP)

DÜSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Gareth Southgate is considered the man who rekindled English fans’ love for their national soccer team.

Now many are turning against him.

Although England advanced undefeated into the round of 16 at the European Championships in Germany, the criticism is fierce.

“I would have gotten rid of him before this tournament,” said Charlie O’Shea, a 32-year-old England fan from London who travelled to Germany for the tournament.

The team has “not really grown,” said O’Shea, who wore a retro blue England jersey.

“I think he needs to pick players that actually fit the system… and I don’t think he has the personality to actually do that,” he said. “If he’s in the dressing room and things aren’t going well, are you going to listen to Gareth Southgate? No.”

The reaction to Southgate is in stark contrast to previous tournaments, when England fans sang him a reworking of British girl band Atomic Kitten’s 2001 hit “Whole Again”, changing the lyrics to “Southgate, you’re the one”.

The vest he wore at the 2018 World Cup became one of the tournament’s iconic symbols and his team only missed out on victory at the last European Championships by a penalty shootout – losing to Italy and missing out on England’s first trophy since the 1966 World Cup.

Beyond football, Southgate was seen as a unifying force at a time of upheaval and uncertainty in English politics and society. Since his appointment in 2016 – just months after a divisive referendum on leaving the European Union – Britain has seen four prime ministers and could see a fifth following the general election on July 4, just before the quarter-finals of the 2024 European Championships.

He has spoken out on political issues, including supporting players in taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 during the pandemic.

“I suspect and feel that Gareth Southgate’s instinct is always that of a unifier. He likes to try to bring people together and is driven by a kind of positivity,” playwright and screenwriter James Graham told The Associated Press.

Graham wrote the West End play Dear England, about how Southgate exceeded all expectations and led the national team to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the final of the last European Championship.

He believes Southgate appeals to a “soft patriotism” rather than the “aggressive or toxic culture wars we see in the rest of the political environment.”

The play “Dear England” is being adapted for television and updated with the outcome of this European Championship, where history took a dramatic turn and some fans lost their faith.

There is not much of a positive atmosphere in Germany. England has only won one of its three group matches – 1-0 against Serbia. The English fans have the feeling that the team, which was one of the favourites before the tournament, is not playing to its potential despite star players such as Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.

“I think he probably took them as far as he could. That’s probably a good way of looking at it, but what a job he did along the way,” said George Cottam, an England fan from Bury.

England play Slovakia in the last 16 on Sunday and appear to have the better chance in the draw for the knockout stages, where they could avoid France, Spain, Germany and Portugal until the final. However, there is negativity surrounding the team after lackluster performances in the group stage.

“I understand the feelings towards me but support the players,” Southgate said after fans threw beer mugs in his direction following England’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia on Tuesday.

Before the tournament, he admitted that he would probably have to win the tournament to remain in office.

“I know you can’t keep going out in front of the public and saying, ‘Please do a little more,’ because at some point people will lose trust in your message,” he said.

While Graham said he was disappointed with the reaction to Southgate at the European Championships, he acknowledged how dramatic the unexpected turn of events was.

“If it didn’t actually happen and I wasn’t so sad as an England fan, it would be a very dramatic final episode at the moment,” he said. “What a powerful image, him marching towards the fans, some of whom are throwing beer mugs at him, and he just stands there and applauds them. He doesn’t back down and wants to show respect, even to people who don’t respect him.”

“I find it moving and quite disturbing, but it’s not over yet. And the final act may remind us why we should have kept our faith from the beginning.”

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James Robson can be found at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024