Giving England an identity will be Gareth Southgate’s big challenge as full-time manager, Gordon Strachan’s future looks bleak and Lallana’s quality was key
Forget the reality that the scoreline felt rather deceptive at times, with this far from pristine. The Football Association has a formal process still to undertake, which will now include the input of Howard Wilkinson, but the appointment of Gareth Southgate on a permanent basis is surely a formality. England head into the winter lull clear at the top of this group, unbeaten now in 33 qualifying games, with the interim manager having taken seven points from three matches. Even a humiliating defeat by Spain in Tuesday’s friendly is unlikely to damage his chances of being offered the chance to succeed Sam Allardyce, most likely through to 2020 with a break clause after the World Cup in Russia. He has enjoyed his stint in temporary charge. The real work starts now.
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