'Do It For Sir Bobby And England': Eriksson's Rallying Cry To Southgate For Euro 2024 Glory

Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has urged Gareth Southgate to win the Euro 2024 final for himself, Sir Bobby Robson, and England. England secured their place in the final by defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-finals on Wednesday. They will face Spain in Berlin on Sunday.

England has not won a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup. Their last attempt at European glory ended in a penalty shootout loss to Italy in Euro 2020 after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. Eriksson, who managed England from 2001 to 2006, never advanced past the quarter-finals of either the World Cup or Euros during his tenure.

Eriksson expressed his support for Southgate, saying, "Gareth, do it for me, Sir Bobby and England." He acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with managing England, noting that every manager since Sir Alf Ramsey has felt it. "None of us succeeded, but no one has come closer than Gareth Southgate," he added.

Under Southgate's leadership, England has shown significant improvement in handling penalties. They have only lost one of their three shootouts under him—the Euro 2020 final against Italy—but were flawless from the spot against Switzerland in the quarter-finals last week. Eriksson admitted he should have prepared his team better for penalties during his time as manager.

"One of my biggest regrets as England manager is that I did not appoint a psychologist to deal with that," Eriksson said. "I thought we were grown up and could handle the pressure of penalties, but unfortunately, it was not like that."

Belief in Victory

Eriksson believes that Southgate has learned from past mistakes and gone further than any previous manager since Ramsey. "Gareth is certainly the best English coach since Sir Alf," he stated. "Win in Berlin on Sunday and I believe he should be considered better." He emphasized that belief is crucial for victory: "If you believe in something, it can happen, and that includes beating Spain in the final."

Reflecting on his own experiences, Eriksson recalled how England lost to Portugal on penalties in the 2006 World Cup. He praised Southgate for addressing this issue effectively. "I never thought I would see the day when England were so good at penalties," he said.

The Final Challenge

Despite his confidence in Southgate's team, Eriksson hopes the final does not go to penalties like their match against Italy. He prefers it to be settled in normal or extra time but remains optimistic if it does come down to a shootout. "If there are penalties, though, there is absolutely no fear," he remarked.

Eriksson concluded with a heartfelt message: "I would love to see England win. So would every one of the managers who has tried and failed to win a major trophy since 1966. Come on, Gareth. Do what we never could."