While in Noord -London the new manager made a number of wilting comments about the old, on the South Bank, there was a reminder that Gareth Southgate is a thoroughly decent man who left his successor to build a nice work.
As Thomas Tuchel says to 'Sir Gareth' towards the end of James Graham's funny and inspiring remake of England in the National Theater, 'you have made the impossible work, possibly'.
The German, an addition to the 2023 premiere, is much friendlier for his predecessor on stage than the real version was on the stage of his press conference last weekend.
One of Tuchel's criticism was then that the Southgate team missed 'identity'. Dear England, however, is an exploration of the eight -year search of Southgate to rediscover our national identity. He was successful, as this piece moves moving and confirms the Real -World evidence – two major finals and the re -connection of players with the population.
The fact that the production climbed with the public on the leg of Sweet Caroline with Southgate and his team felt like validation for the rewriting. After all, it is not an easy sale – a new game about an old manager who has won nothing. I have seen both versions, and I would like to bring friends and family to a third when it goes through the UK.
“I'm Gareth and I am from Crawley,” says Southgate, brilliantly depicted by Gwilym Lee. “I know that I sound like a travel agent.”
It is a line of the first half and, while winning a smile, it is part of the scene in which Southgate tries to win the hearts and spirits of his players. In turn, the audience is taken on the same trip for people like Harry Kane, Jordan Pickford and Jordan Henderson.
“Do you have to be called Jordan to be from Sunderland?” Says Dele Alli, during an earlier scene that sheds a light on the divided dressing room inherited by Southgate.
And so the travel agent from Crawley, with his eyebrows on trampolines and blinking lids so Cannily is imprisoned, the potential of his team, the potential of a whole nation, is unlocking.
“What is England?” he asks them. “It's not a trick, it must come from you.”
Graham, whose game on the screen is being adjusted by the BBC, says Mail Sport: 'Something remarkable happened under Gareth Southgate. He transformed our fortunes from 2016 to 2024 through silent progression. We are now on our way to win. He made everyone feel better to be a fan of England. Although we did not get the end of a trophy, it didn't. This story was and is important.
'If Thomas Tuchel wins the World Cup, Gareth's work will be the basis. As Tuchel says on stage: “Ten years ago, no real world -class manager wanted this job.” '
The players are now signed without little humor, especially Kane. The Captain of England is not allowed to enjoy elements of his image – it plays on his monotone in East – but, just like Southgate, it shows him as the decent person he is. In fact, Ryan Whittle steals the show in the role of Kane.
What is it like to be Captain of England, Harry?
“England captain … it's like you're the queen,” he says, Deadpan.
Graham says: 'If you come to the theater, you want to laugh – and laugh friendly at the actors who capture the impressions. We paint Harry Kane on his journey to leadership. We start with him who is struggling to catch his words, but then he grows and articulates himself. He stands up for his teammates. Come the end, he is the leader we see today. '
Until 2018 and a first World Cup Penalty Shootout victory, Euro 2020 and the trauma of racism that followed the defeat in the final on penalties, for World Cup 2022 and the despair of Kane, we arrive at Euro 2024 and then Tuchel.
Art imitates real life when the new head coach, who has praised Southgate's work when they meet, adds: “Of course I will say all of this in the press and will participate in the angry.”
At Wembley, however, Tuchel should probably have carried a vest, given his victories over Albania and Latvia, a lot was like that under Southgate. Taking that next step will be harder than he might think.
In the meantime, Best England enables us to enjoy the gigantic progress of Southgate.
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