MICHAEL OWEN has tipped Graham Potter to replace Gareth Southgate as England manager.
The former Liverpool and Manchester United striker believes that Euro 2024 will be Southgate’s last in charge of the Three Lions.
Owen, 44, has suggested that after the tournament there will be a “natural parting” between the boss and England.
He has suggested that Potter, 49, would be a good choice be the FA to take up the job.
The Englishman has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in 2023.
However, he had been hailed for his previous work at Brighton and Hove Albion, Swansea City and Swedish outfit Ostersund.
Owen told CSGOLuck: “I could imagine with Southgate that there will be a natural parting no matter what the result. If we win it, Southgate’s had a fair crack at it, he’s enjoyed it but he might even be ready for a change himself.
“The general feeling among fans in England has been that this is his last tournament.
“A lot of people are frustrated with the cautious approach. I just think it may be an occasion whereby it’s best for everyone, he might want a break or have a crack at club management.
“I would say if we win or not, Southgate will be looking at life after England.
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“There is not an outstanding candidate to take over if Southgate goes. I personally am of the opinion that we should stick to an English manager, that’s what international football is about.
“In fact I would almost go as far as to say there should be a rule change. You are playing for your country, the players are going to be from that country.
Gareth Southgate
Middlesbrough, June 2006 – October 2009
P151 W45 D43 L63 Win percentage 29.8%
England U21, August 2013 – September 2016
P37 W27 D5 L5 Win percentage 72.97%
England, September 2016 – Present
P110 W60 D24 L16 Win percentage 60%
Overall: P156 W81 D44 L71 Win Percentage 41.3%
Graham Potter
Östersunds, December 2011 – June 2018
P224 W109 D56 L59 Win percentage 48.6%
Swansea City, June 2018 – May 2019
P51 W21 D11 L19 Win percentage 41.1%
Brighton and Hove Albion, May 2019 – September 2022
P134 W43 D43 L48 Win Percentage 32%
Chelsea, September 2022 – April 2023
P31 W12 D8 L11 Win percentage 38.7%
Overall: P440 W185 D118 L137 Win Percentage 42%
“In club football you can have any player or coach from any country but I think when you’re playing for your country it should be Scottish managers, Scottish players and Scottish physios.
“That’s the point. Same with France. That’s the point of international football.
“It’s not a rule but I would have that principle and would like England to have an English manager. I think possibly the one manager free and available is Graham Potter, who may take it.”
Owen has also suggested names like Steve Cooper, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.
However his ideal choice would be Eddie Howe but due to his position at Newcastle, he sees Potter as more likely.
He added: “Apart from him, I think Steve Cooper is a good manager, Frank Lampard and Gerrard would have been tipped in the past but they probably need to do well in their current jobs to be back in the fold maybe.
“Eddie Howe I really see as a top manager but he’s employed at the moment. As things stand, if Southgate were to leave tomorrow I’d probably say Potter.”
Meanwhile, Gary Lineker has tipped Lampard to take over the job.
The BBC pundit believes that the Chelsea legend would get immediate respect and would be tactically capable.
JORDAN PICKFORD has regularly been the hero when it comes to a penalty shootout for his country, writes Jon Boon.
The England and Everton goalkeeper, 30, saved Manuel Akanji’s effort for Switzerland to hand the Three Lions an advantage in their shootout win in their Euro 2024 quarter-final.
Now, with the help of Goalkeeper.com, we’ve uncovered Pickford’s penalty-saving technique.
USES HISTORIC TRENDS
Pickford is well prepared when it comes to facing the ball from 12-yards.
His water bottle trick has become infamous with the list of penalty takers and direction of shot taped on to it.
But you cannot always listen blindly to most probable placements, and a goalkeeper’s intuition should also play a role.
That human element remains important.
UTILISES A MIXED STRATEGY
Being a goalkeeper is often called the ‘loneliest job’ in the world.
And when it comes to penalties, your team-mates are solely reliant upon your strategy to save one.
Often, we’ve seen goalies who prefer to favour one side – and continuously dive one way.
However, Pickford adopts a mixed strategy.
Sometimes, he will dive to the power side – saving from Jorginho in the Euro 2020 final.
His save from Akanji in the Swiss shootout was made on the placement side.
TECHNICAL EXECUTION OF DIVE
Goalkeepers are hindered during penalty shootouts – with the Fifa rulebook meaning they have to stay on the line until the shot is taken.
That means the lift off of your dive has to be executed a certain way.
Pickford launches himself from his back foot behind the line, pushes his body weight forwards, makes no large negative step and keeps both hands active to make the save.
This was put into effect when he made saves from Italy’s Andrea Belotti in 2020 and Colombia’s Carlos Bacca at the 2018 World Cup.
France’s Mike Maignan, by comparison, takes a large negative step, and struggles to reach his posts.
CLUB VS COUNTRY METRICS
Interestingly, Pickford is better at saving penalties in shootouts for England than in his overall career average, and better at saving in shootouts vs in game.
Clearly, Pickford performs better in an England shirt and when there is bigger pressure.
Read our full analysis of Jordan Pickford’s penalty-saving techniques…
