Make no mistake in this, few things are the same. For example, in some countries, at least in larger countries, there is a potential to go from ecstasy to despair based on an outcome.
Win and you'll hear pundits and fans - at least those who make the most noise - talk about how deeply England can beat anyone and everyone "world class" with three lions on their shirts. is, or as they like to say, "about there." are defeated and they are at best unworthy, hopeless, at worst a spoiled, ungrateful bunch of stains on national character.
That doesn't mean that media and supporters in other countries don't get seduced when they excel, or turn into angry villagers with pitchforks and torches when they perform poorly. They certainly do; It's just that there isn't usually a 180 degree change from game to game.
But while that part about England hasn't changed, it has a lot to do with Gareth Southgate leading the team, and something to do with the kind of players who make up his team. Here are five ways this side is different.
1. Southgate is likeable and polite and normal
The England manager is probably more related to him than any of his seven permanent predecessors. Let's remind ourselves that the list includes a man who lost his job after saying he believed in reincarnation and that people with disabilities were being punished for sins in a former life (Glenn Hodl), a What went out of the blue in a postgame interview was Wembley (Kevin Keegan), a man who had an affair with a Football Association employee and was duped by a man dressed as a wealthy sheikh (Sven Göran Eriksson). Was, a man who left because the FA forced him to take down their captain. Armband (Fabio Capello) and a man who had to leave after a game due to an undercover sting that saw him talk about "bypassing the rules" to register players (Sam Allardyce).
Now, there is context and another side to all of the above, and it is by no means a worse manager than Southgate above; In fact, from a purely football perspective, most were arguably better. But it does mean that the current England boss has managed to avoid controversy and drama to an extent that the others have not. Moreover, he has done so by being polite and honest, which is what people find attractive.
2. Southgate is not unduly influenced by the media
Whether it's playing left-back Kieran Trippier (and not playing Ben Chilwell at all), keeping up with kalvin Phillips in midfield, making Raheem Sterling a fixture or making his Bukayo Saka debut against Germany, Southgate has made many decisions that may be described even outside popular knowledge. The same popular wisdom that forced previous managers to shoehorn Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and sometimes Paul Scholes into the same midfield.
Nor does Southgate panic when performances leave critics unsatisfied, such as a 0–0 draw against Scotland or the second half against the Czech Republic in the group stage, after which England struggled to register 0.0 expected goals ( Which is clearly difficult to do) )
He has a plan, he sticks to it, and he knows that, in the short term, it can be judged by how well his teams play (and therefore the risk of ramming the media), in the long term. That will be decided by how far they progress in the tournament (so far so good).
Southgate finds a basic concept that others miss: club football – with its 38-game league season – typically rewards teams that attack and play well, more than they admit. make more. Tournament football, on the other hand, is a different animal, where risk-taking is discouraged.
France in the last World Cup essentially deep-seated, did not accept and waited for the superstars at the other end to do something special. England hasn't gone that far - and maybe, Phillips is no Paul Pogba, Declan Rice is no N'Golo Kante, Sterling is no Antoine Griezmann and no Kylian Mbappe in sight - but the concept is no different.
3. England players look like they want to be there
After most tournament disappointments in previous years, the English media would run their own investigation into what went wrong. This will be a familiar process. Coach's decisions will (always) be criticized and, usually, will be a grand theory, sometimes involving a personal scapegoat, such as David Beckham in 1998 or David Seaman in 2002 or Wayne Rooney most of the time, and Sometimes taking into account the collective humiliation of duty.
Inevitably, another sub-topic was to emerge as to whether these players really wanted to wear the Three Lions and whether there was an internal rivalry that tore the group apart. Eriksson famously commented on how players would eat and hang out with their club mates, other managers have spoken about how players feel "less protected" with England compared to club level, and others Still noted how the players felt it was a "household", given the environment around the national team.
And when things went awry, as punctual as ever, a story was making its way into the national media. Maybe if England lose to Denmark on Wednesday, the cycle will repeat.
However, I don't think so, as there was none after the World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia in 2018 and every indication is that unlike previous campaigns, there is no poison in this England camp. The credit for this goes not only to Southgate, but to this group of players as well.
4. This group has the right mix of leaders and foot soldiers
There is no doubt that in terms of strength at depth, especially in attack, this England is as strong as any non-French speaking team in Europe. But the players to whom Southgate has entrusted the most responsibility over the past few weeks have humility as well. There are far fewer alpha males among the regular guys than in the old fashioned, watch me, superstar types.
Rice, Phillips and Jordan Pickford watch the Champions League on TV. Man City's three players have been vital to their club side without being indispensable, partly because of Pep Guardiola's strong collective ethos, partly because of the talent around them. Mason Mount isn't an A-lister yet. Luke Shaw plays for Man United but has faced several setbacks. Harry Maguire is a natural leader, but was at Hull City by the age of 24.
The one exception is Harry Kane, who has been carrying Tottenham on his back for several years, but in terms of arrogance and personality, he won't be mistaken for Zlatan Ibrahimovic any time soon. This is a blue-collar team for a blue-collar play style, with lots of talent and game-changers moving in and out of the bench, be it Jadon Sancho or Phil Foden or Jack Grealish or Saka. It's not a favor built around two or three individuals - arguably, Ken apart, though you still saw him go for long periods of time without service and he didn't complain - and that makes it different.
5. Success breeds success and confidence
It also seems different for the simple reason that many players know what national-team success looks like. England have reached the semifinals of major tournaments only six times, Southgate and most of the squad have done it twice, just as Sir Alf Ramsey and Co. did in 1966 and 1968.
England had gone more than 20 years without reaching the last four of a competition, before Southgate took them to Russia. This does not mean that the pressure has stopped, but it is not insignificant, because once the cycle begins, it is difficult to slow down.
Once you have the experience of actually accomplishing something worthwhile, it becomes easier to do it again. This England team does not play with swagger, but there is a calm confidence in the players. And it may be even more important.
Southgate's England has managed to break the feedback loop of drama and disappointment. Not necessarily from playing better football or being better players - at least in terms of the people who actually make it on the pitch - but the way they carry themselves and the way the environment at camp moves them. is.
It may not be entirely down to the manager. It could be the players. It could be the fans and the media who, after 18 months of the pandemic, are a little more calm and happy and want to highlight the positivity.
This may or may not be enough to win the euro, but it is a darn sight different from the past.