Jamie Carragher insists England fans must stop doubting Gareth Southgate after Wales victory

Jamie Carragher has insisted it’s time to stop doubting Gareth Southgate as his calming influence once again proved correct.

The Three Lions have topped their group after beating Wales 3-0 in their final group stage match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Boss Southgate changed his starting line-up before the clash to revive the team and that proved to be exactly the case.

England topped their group at the 2022 World Cup after beating Wales 3–0

It’s time for Three Lions fans to stop doubting boss Gareth Southgate after he gets it right again

Marcus Rashford, Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker were brought in to replace Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount and Kieran Trippier.

But perhaps more impressively, Southgate seems to stick to his game plan regardless of the criticism he receives, even managing to rest a few players while taking a comfortable win.

Former Liverpool defender Carragher believes the Three Lions boss got it right again with those changes ahead of the Wales game.

Expert Jamie Carragher believes Southgate’s calm influence helps in big tournaments

He even had the bigger picture of the competition in mind: giving chances to key players and playing two more defensive midfielders, which could be the right choice if they later face France in the quarter-finals.

In his column with The Telegraph, he said, ‘Greetings Gareth Southgate. He’s picking it up again. There is a crucial difference between Southgate and any England manager for the past 30 years: his ability to drown out the noise and focus on the bigger picture.

“Southgate never panics, is never unnerved by criticism, and never makes hasty decisions. Amidst the hysteria of an international tournament, he is the figure of the calm England that has been too often missing.

Southgate’s strength in every major league he’s led the country in is to stick to his plan no matter if there’s a bump in the road.

“He has taken all the knowledge he gained as an England player and applied it brilliantly as a national coach.

“Watching the team sheet against Wales on Tuesday night felt like Southgate was thinking two games ahead and the possibility of meeting France in the quarter final.”

Marcus Rashford (left) and Phil Foden (right) didn’t perform like they were under pressure

He added: ‘His attitude works on the players and makes them look ahead rather than dwelling on criticism. Look at Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden’s performances against Wales.

“They didn’t perform like they were under pressure, carrying the weight of a country’s expectations, or like they had something to prove to the coach. They played like they knew Southgate was behind them.’

Then it’s a clash with Senegal in the last 16 of the competition with the goal of another successful major tournament after reaching the semi-finals at the 2018 World Cup and the final of Euro 2020.

Southgate knows Kyle Walker will be key, which is why he gave him his first start in the Welsh victory

A key player as England progress to the final stages of the tournament will undoubtedly be Manchester City’s Kyle Walker – therefore a wise decision to take him on against Wales.

Kyle Walker’s shot was as good over the next two weeks as it was over the 90 minutes against Wales.

“For England to reach the semi-finals, they will have to play against France and Kylian Mbappé at some point. Walker’s pace would be essential. No doubt Southgate is thinking about that.’