Gareth Southgate is England's best manager since Sir Alf Ramsey - but he's to blame for their Euro 2020 failure

Southgate has unquestionably done a superb job since, to the disbelief of some supporters and disapproval of many media pundits, he took charge of his national team following the sudden resignation of Sam Allardyce in 2016.

He is, having now led his men to the Russia 2018 semi-final and the Euro 2020 final, the most successful English manager after Sir Alf Ramsey.

The former Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough man has certainly had a wealth of exceptional talent, a golden generation of players, at his disposal during the past five years.

Pedro Caixinha would be made to look like Rinus Michels if he had Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, John Stones and Kyle Walker in his squad.

But every one of Southgate’s predecessors, Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McLaren, Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson, could select genuine world-class stars as well and none of them fared as well. 

An individual who was widely considered to be too nice for the high-profile role when he was promoted from the England Under-21 post has an inner steel that enables him to withstand the intense scrutiny he is under. What is more, he conducts himself with dignity and decorum. He is a difficult bloke to dislike. 

He has excellent man management skills and good tactical awareness too. His decision to switch from a 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-2-1 formation, drop the on-form Saka, deploy Kyle Walker as a right-sided centre back and use Luke Shaw and Kieran Trippier as wing backs in the final stunned an expectant nation.

Yet, Shaw got on the end of a Trippier cross in just the second minute and scored. In the first-half England were the better team. They contained rivals who were on a 33 game unbeaten run magnificently, albeit without troubling the opposition defence significantly after taking their early lead.

But the margins between success and failure are infinitesimal. Southgate must shoulder full responsibility for the harrowing defeat England that suffered. His decisions from half-time onwards meant the 1966 World Cup winners failed to end 55 years of hurt.

Italy bossed the second-half. They dominated possession, applied relentless pressure and deserved to draw level through Leonardo Bonucci in the 67th minute. 

When Saka replaced Trippier with 20 minutes remaining England rallied. When Jack Grealish came on for Mason Mount in extra-time they regained control of proceedings. But they were unable to seriously test Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Why did Southgate wait so long to make changes? It was obvious to everyone inside the stadium and to the millions watching at home that they were required.

Why, too, did he wait until the last minute of extra-time to put on Rashford and Jadon Sancho? They may well have been the most clinical penalty kick takers in training. But they had been sat on their backsides on the bench for over two hours. They both failed to convert from 12 yards.

And why oh why oh why was Saka given the fifth spot kick? The “data” may have suggested he was best placed to net. Apparently, he had been rattling them in for fun for weeks. But it is one thing doing it at St George’s Park in front of handful of folk, it is quite another doing it at Wembley with a crowd of 67,173 looking on and Euro 2020 on the line.

The boy is, for all his ability, just 19. He had never taken never mind scored a penalty in senior football. It was an absurd and costly decision. Typically, Southgate held his hands up and took the blame. But the bizarre move rightly drew condemnation from throughout the game.

Is it any wonder that Kane and Harry Maguire, two senior players who had been on the pitch since kick-off, were the only England players to beat Donnarumma? Sterling, Grealish or even Shaw would have been far better options.

It is to be hoped that Arsenal youngster Saka, who was exceptional during the tournament, recovers from the traumatic experience, isn’t scarred by the sickening racist abuse he was subjected to on social media afterwards along with Rashford and Sancho and goes on to fulfil his vast potential in future.

He was the first player that Southgate went over to console after Italy had triumphed. The England manager understands exactly what the kid is going through having suffered the same fate at Euro ’96. He is, then, well placed to help the winger bounce back. But he should never have put him in that position in the first place. 

The 50-year-old himself will learn from Euro 2020. It would be foolish to rule out his chances of taking his men through to the latter stages of Qatar 2022 next year and possibly even returning home victorious. But if he makes more errors at crucial moments in the Middle East there will be the same outcome.

At the end of what was an enjoyable and entertaining tournament, justice was probably done. England only won their semi-final against a Denmark team who were far from their best after an energy-sapping trip to London from Baku in Azerbaijan at Wembley last week thanks to a soft penalty award. It was a hollow victory.

Italy were the best team at the finals. To acquit themselves as well as they did in such a hostile environment on Sunday was remarkable and said much about their mental strength. They were immense in defence, midfield and attack. Nobody can begrudge Giorgio Chiellini and his team mates their triumph.

But it was still a huge opportunity missed by England. They played all but one of their seven games on home soil with large and vocal crowds cheering them on. They will not get a better chance to end their run of disappointment and failure again.