Southampton coach calls on nation to 'get behind the boys'

The Saints Women’s head coach reserved praise for manager Gareth Southgate, as the Three Lions prepare to face Iran in their first group game on Monday.

England have reached the semi-final of the World Cup and final of the European Championships in successive tournaments, while the women’s team went one further.

The Lionesses, with whom Spacey-Cale used to work as a coach and even attended a World Cup, defeated Germany at Wembley to win the Euros this summer.

The success has seen an increase in participation and investment in women’s football as well as unifying the country for a home tournament.

“It will be exciting,” Spacey-Cale told the Daily Echo, of the upcoming clash in Qatar. “As we’re still playing, the opportunity for us to actually watch games will be limited.

“What we have to do is get behind the boys and get behind the country, because the surge of support for the women’s team during the EUROs was a feel-good factor we want everyone to have to really step the nation back up again.”

She added: “The summer has happened and now it’s the World Cup for the men, so let’s hope they can bring the nation together in what is tough times for society. A bit of good cheer will be really good for everybody.”

The World Cup, which also sees England play USA and Wales in the group stage, will be Southgate’s third tournament as manager.

Although he is under contract until the end of 2024, it could be the former international defender’s last crack at bringing a first trophy since 1966 – should he choose to resign after.

“What Gareth is, is a real human – and that sounds a bit basic, but I mean he is a person who really cares about the environment, culture and the people in the group,” Spacey-Cale identified.

“He will have done a lot of work with his people around him on what the culture should feel like. And then I don’t think it’s his culture, it becomes a squad culture and he’ll certainly engage with the players about this.”

She continued: “Giving the players that autonomy, when they’re all striving for the same cause, is like anything – you have a strategy and a goal tree and then it is easier to have as your mission something that is easier to control rather than just ‘winning the World Cup’.

“You can’t guarantee that and sometimes you can’t control that, but you can inspire a nation and give a feel-good feeling to the nation in tough times. If that’s your purpose, your football then helps you to get to the goal.”

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