Gareth Southgate taught me patience
England weren't really trying to win, were they? It was a bit timid at times, and yes they scored, but that was only due to a substitution that happened every game at this Euros. It's like England were trying to come second, as if they could go home and tell everyone how hard they tried but how close they came. And so this football cycle is over, and all the football we'll be getting until September will be which overpriced midfielder is joining Manchester X.
If I've learned anything from watching England play in the Euros, all seven matches which was more than I expected, it's that people weren't exaggerating when they said Southgate was a safe manager. To his credit, it did eventually work out for him, even if he required lots of luck to go his way. As often happens in football, it's never always the best team that wins the match - England have only led in the Euros for about two hours in all, a tally mostly accumulated in their first match against Serbia, whereas Spain amassed the same amount in the group stages alone.
Gareth Southgate has taught me that patience and luck are key far, far better than any parent, teacher, politician, or priest, ever could. To be fair, it's easy to do so when that's your main tactic. And that's all I'll take from England at this Euro - yet another tournament where the hype train departed in full swing before falling short; now no one will care what the squad did, it's back to moaning and club football from hereon in.
But we could all learn something from Southgate - patience is essential. I'll see you in two years when England inevitably lose in the quarters in LA.