From confusion to clarity – Tuchel’s England find a pulse
20.06.26, 18:00 Updated 20.06.26, 19:43 3 Minute Read
Rob Shepherd
Gareth Southgate crystallised the shortcomings of Sven-Goran Eriksson when in charge of the first incarnation of The Golden Generation at the 2002 World Cup.
Having taken the lead against Brazil in a quarter-final, England, in good shape, had been pegged back to 1-1 by a goal just before half-time.
“We wanted Winston Churchill, but we got Iain Duncan Smith,” Southgate, who was amongst the subs in the dressing room, later quipped. A ten-man Brazil would go on to win 2-1 in Shizuoka on the way to winning the tournament, which was there for England.
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Rob Shepherd A veteran of the international circuit, covering England from Italia ’90 to the modern era. He has witnessed the team’s defining moments up close, including press conference exchanges that have become part of England folklore.