England's men's football team lacked a killer instinct under Gareth Southgate, according to comedian Frank Skinner. Skinner, who has co-written a new poem about football fandom and the home nations ahead of Euro 2028, told the Guardian that he believes England ultimately fell at the final hurdle under Southgate because he was too much of a nice bloke. He didn't let the team express itself fully.

Skinner thinks Southgate's niceness was the problem. He says England's men's team was like a dog being walked on a lead that was crying out to be released. Under Southgate, England's men's team reached two Euro finals, losing both of them - to Italy in 2020 and Spain in 2024. The manager faced criticism for what many deemed a conservative playing style. They didn't like his approach.

It's great when the dog's running around and comes back to you, says Skinner. But he never let England off the lead. Skinner likened England under Southgate to this dog, suggesting that the team wasn't allowed to express itself fully. He didn't give them the freedom they needed.

Frank Skinner is a well-known comedian and football fan. He hosted the weekly comedy show Fantasy Football League with David Baddiel in the 1990s. Skinner has also written a short book on verse, How to Enjoy Poetry, and presents Frank Skinner's Poetry Podcast. He's got a lot of experience in the field.

Skinner has co-written a spoken-word piece alongside players from the home nations, including former England international Izzy Christiansen and former Newcastle and Northern Ireland winger Keith Gillespie. The piece is an inclusive vision of modern fandom ahead of the 2028 Euros tournament that will be held jointly by England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. They're working together to create something special.

The comedian says Thomas Tuchel, once described by the Guardian as a perfectionist and a workaholic, could help England win at this summer's World Cup by embracing a braver playing style. Tuchel was quite fiery and a complicated presence at Chelsea, according to Skinner. He's got a slight madness about him, which I think you probably need to win it, says Skinner. You can't win without taking risks.

Skinner also talked about the portrayal of Gareth Southgate's penalty miss at Euro 96 in the BBC TV adaptation of James Graham's play, Dear England. He said the play suggested that Gareth Southgate had volunteered to take that penalty, which isn't true. Southgate said he felt he couldn't say no to his hero Bryan Robson, England's assistant coach, who'd asked him to take the sixth spot kick. He didn't want to let him down.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Three Lions, the anthemic, self-deprecating song about England fandom. The song has been No 1 four times in the UK. Skinner said the single was an example of patriotism lite at a time when racism was still a big part of fan culture in the UK. It wasn't a good time for football.

  • England's men's football team reached two Euro finals under Gareth Southgate, losing both of them.
  • Thomas Tuchel is described as a perfectionist and a workaholic.
  • Frank Skinner has co-written a spoken-word piece alongside players from the home nations.
  • The 2028 Euros tournament will be held jointly by England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland.

The first two episodes of Dear England, the BBC TV adaptation of James Graham's play, will air on 24 May. The play charts the Southgate era's ups and downs and won two Olivier awards, including best new play, in 2024. Skinner says the play is really not about football, it's about a bloke stepping into a world like that, into that job and actually bringing real decency to it and compassion to it. He's talking about Southgate's character.

Skinner's comments about Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel are interesting, given the current state of English football. England's men's team hasn't won a major tournament in over 60 years, and the team's fans are eager for a change. With Tuchel at the helm, England may have a chance to win at this summer's World Cup. They're hoping for a miracle.

The World Cup is a major international football tournament held every four years. It's one of the most widely viewed and followed sporting events in the world. England's men's team has a long history of competing in the World Cup, but the team hasn't won the tournament since 1966. They're due for a win.

Frank Skinner's comments about Gareth Southgate and Thomas Tuchel reflect the current state of English football. With the World Cup approaching, England's men's team has a chance to make a change and win a major tournament. Thomas Tuchel's more abrasive style might be the key to England's success, and fans are waiting to see what happens next. The team's performance will determine their fate.