Rio Ferdinand says ‘Gareth Southgate let England DOWN’ with ‘reactive, not proactive’ substitutions

Rio Ferdinand has said that Gareth Southgate’s tactics ‘let England down’ during their 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal defeat to France. 

The Three Lions were eliminated from the tournament after succumbing to two goals from Aurélien Tchouaméni and Olivier Giroud, with their captain, Harry Kane missing a penalty that could have brought England back into the match at 2-2. 

Despite leading England to the quarterfinals, former England defender, Ferdinand, criticised the manager’s tactics, claiming the Three Lions were ‘reactive, not proactive’ to the changing game. 

Rio Ferdinand (pictured) has said Gareth Southgate’s tactics ‘let England down’ vs France

Ferdinand said Southgate (pictured) was ‘reactive, not proactive’ after conceding in the match 

‘Our [England’s] substitutions is where I think Gareth Southgate let us down,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube show Rio Ferdinand Presents FIVE. 

‘I think he’s been pitch-perfect, touch-perfect in almost every decision he’s made up to this point, but you get into a game like yesterday where this is really where it matters now, and I think Gareth Southgate came up short in the tactical element in terms of substitutions.

‘That’s part of tactics, making substitutions, and in-game management and deciding games with substitutions at the business end of a tournament, I think he would hold his hands up maybe in retrospect.’ 

The manager made four substitutions with Marcus Rashford (right) coming on after 85 minutes

Jack Grealish (pictured) also came into the fray in the 98th minute which was perhaps too late 

Southgate made four substitutions during the game, bringing Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling on for Jordan Henderson and Bukayo Saka in the 79th minute, just after Giroud scored France’s second. 

Marcus Rashford then replaced Phil Foden in the 85th minute, right after Harry Kane missed his second penalty, before waiting until the 98th minute to bring Jack Grealish on for John Stones. 

‘I threw a text in the group, and I stand by this,’ Ferdinand continued. ‘Gareth, in the moment, wasn’t proactive with his substitutions, he was reactive.

‘It hit 1-1 and we’re sitting there going ‘take the bull by the horns, make a substitution, get us on the front foot’. You’ve got Rashford, you’ve got Grealish who can go on, get us on the front foot and change this game.

England were knocked out of the World Cup by France 2-1 and departed Qatar earlier today

‘You’re sitting there going, ‘It’s too late, man’. You’ve got to do this when we’ve got the chance of still winning this game and taking the game from them.’

Yet, many have been enamoured with the work Southgate has done with this England side since he took on the role in 2016. 

While England’s exit from the tournament now raises questions over whether he will continue to want to coach the Three Lions, Ferdinand believed Southgate should stay.

Despite the heartbreaking defeat Ferdinand still said he thought Southgate should stay

He added: “I think, if I am Gareth Southgate, I can not leave this story. This story hasn’t had an ending yet that works for me, if I’m Gareth Southgate.’

The 52-year-old is currently keeping his cards to his chest about his future in management, admitting after yesterday’s game that he will take time to ‘reflect’ on the tournament and will not make a ‘snap decision’ on whether to stay or leave. 

England will be back in action in March 2023, as they kick off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign but whether Southgate will continue to be in charge, with suitors all around Europe eyeing up a move for the Three Lions coach.