Gareth Southgate will take charge of his 100th game as England manager - but insists he is not ready for the journey to end just yet.
Southgate should take pride after putting England back on the map as a serious football nation and is now in his fourth major tournament quarter final of his eight years in charge.
The curtain may well be coming down on his reign but it could still finish in glorious fashion if they get past Switzerland in the Dusseldorf Arena on Saturday night. Southgate, 53, is rarely comfortable talking about himself at the best of times and was shifting uncomfortably in his seat when asked about his tenure this time.
This Euros has been a bumpy ride at times and yet no-one should forget that it was Southgate who made players want to wear the shirt again and re-established a connection with the England fans.
Southgate has gone so close to ending the long wait for a major trophy and, even if some supporters are losing faith and patience, his overall time in charge has changed the mood of a nation.
“I think it’s something I will reflect on with huge pride in time, but I don’t see that being in the next 10 days,” said Southgate. “Firstly we wanted to rebuild confidence. We wanted the nation to fall back in love with the team. It depends how far you want to go back, to joining the FA or taking over the first team.
“We knew there were a lot of steps to take to earn credibility around Europe, around the world again. It’s ultimately for other people to decide whether we’ve done that.
“But here we are in a fourth quarter-final, which we’re very proud of, given nobody else in Europe has done that. But we haven’t come here to be in a quarter-final. There is obviously a missing piece we’d love to deliver.”
No-one should forget that Southgate took over in 2016 in the wake of the Euros disaster against Iceland and Sam Allardyce ’s ill fated reign which lasted all of one game and 67 days. England were at rock bottom and yet they reached a World Cup semi final in the next tournament and reached the last Euros final. They have yet to do themselves justice this summer and Southgate has often looked pained and stressed.
The criticism from former players has hurt because, over the whole of his reign, he has done more than most of them achieved. Most football fans have short memories. But Southgate did make England supporters smile again.
Switzerland will be difficult opponents but England are fifth in the FIFA rankings compared to their opponents in 19th place. England also have big names, winners and a spirit from their last gasp win over Slovakia.
Southgate insists that bravery and never-say-die spirit the players have shown can still carry them all of the way in the Euros this time. He added: “I think you always want to be managing a team that are never beaten. They have actually shown tremendous bravery.
“People will question that but my point would be that to keep playing, and to keep trying to create good quality chances when you are behind in a knockout game is very difficult.
“There is a lot of anxiety in the stadium, a lot of desire for the ball to be moved forward more quickly and there are times when we could move the ball quicker. There is no question about that.
“But the patience shown to keep trying to create the best possible chances is a really important trait to have and that has not always been the case over the years.
“Ultimately, we could have run out of time the other night and of course the end would have been different but we are in here fighting and we have shown character, resilience in all of the matches, really - and in between the matches.
“So we are looking forward to the test. It is a good team that we are playing and we have to be at our very best. But it is a fantastic opportunity to be in a quarter-final of a European Championship.”
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