The Villa Connection Of No Help To England

Yes, we lost. But I did allow myself about 15 minutes' worth of hope following the start of the match that perhaps, after all, Aston Villa's former captain had galvanised the right sort of attitude and action from his players, despite his team selection. 

Then Italy, perhaps inexorably, started to take over. 

With committed Villa supporters Prince William and Son both being present, a former Villa captain in charge of the England team and our own current captain in the England squad and raring to go, the story should have ended in a better fashion. But it didn't.

It is actually a sadder story than it looks on the surface, for there is no doubt that the great plus of Southgate's achievement is welding together a strong team spirit, and with such a spirit (and, indeed, the talent available) I feel there should have been a better outcome. 

England had, I think, only one worthwhile shot on goal in the entire match - and they scored from that.

Southgate was better known as a centre-back (and a good one at that), and I feel that his experience and approach stems from that fact. Organisation at the back of the team always seems to be his prime focus. Indeed, he had excellent players in that department and they all played well, but how crazy was it that for a lot of the time they also seemed to be the prime attackers! England's goal, courtesy of Shaw via Trippier from a deep-seated Kane being the glaring early example.

The England attack was not much in evidence. Where was the supposed brilliance of Mount? Where were the tunnels to light that Sterling was trying to bore through? And just where was Kane (apart from the first two minutes and his free-kick winning ability)?

Just when England clearly needed someone - anyone - to come and unpick the lock late in the second half, substitutes came on. But no, the lock-pickers were not amongst them; only two more of the same mold that was previously on the pitch.

Jack came on with 20 minutes to go and, arguably, demonstrated more positivity from forward midfield than anyone else in the previous 110 minutes.

But then we came towards the finale, and the bringing on of two players - both from Manchester United - who were, of course, good for the penalty shoot-out. At least according to Southgate. They both missed their penalties, and who can really blame them having found themselves untrusted as outfielders but saddled with the biggest responsibility instead? A responsibility that many much more experienced heads would not have wanted.

I am sure there are many parks teams' coaches who have a better idea than Southgate, it seems to me and from my experience. I am so sorry to say it, but if England ever achieves anything under him, it will not be due much to his talent as an England manager. Unless he learns from all this.

I wish I could even say that I enjoyed this European ride. But I didn't. Alan Shearer's "command and control" gloating after the Ukraine match made it worse. If any team knows anything about "command and control" then it is Italy.

A further matter: BBC newscasters were talking of how England had brought much-needed smiles back to this COVID-hit country - as though the UK is the only one affected. Italy, who of course won the trophy, has arguably sustained the worst COVID devastation in Europe over a longer time. They also suffered more booing from the England fans. I wish Italy well. 

One last thought. Jack looked very pensive at the end. He wants a trophy and it slipped through his hands. Will he re-think about a move from Villa? I continue to think that won't happen - yet. But Villa have to find their success boots if they're going to keep him more than another year. He's 25 now and time is moving on.

UTV!