Gareth Southgate’s future as England coach looks to be nearing the end.
With the country last in their UEFA Nations League group after a humiliating 4-0 home defeat by Hungary on Tuesday night, it is now just a matter of time before he is asked to fold up his waistcoat and pack his bags.
“It is a chastening night,” said Southgate after the defeat. “We have not lost many football matches and when you lose so heavily, at home especially, with England that is going to be very painful.
“I am really clear on what works for us as a group and what doesn’t work as a group – tonight is a difficult night.
“My predecessors have had nights like this, I have watched them from the sofa as a kid and watched as a player and I recognise those difficult times, but you can’t just be at the front when things are going well and not stand up when you have difficult experiences. That is part of football, that is part of life.”
England have scored just once in four games, and that was a Harry Kane penalty in the 1-1 draw with Germany, while they have gone four matches without a win for the first time since 2014.
Southgate’s negative, defensive tactics reliant on set-piece goals are failing and things need to change before the damage gets any worse.