During the 2018 World Cup, Gareth Southgate turned to a British institution to help get the lads into semis shape, the Royal Marines. It was hailed retrospectively as the key to the advanced-stage success. Now that England have soundly beaten their undoers of said World Cup last weekend, we can begin looking for sensible reasons why. I think I have found it in tailoring.
Gareth Southgate is by no means a dandy or natural aesthete. His sartorial dexterity Is achieved through some smart and unexpected twists (that Percival polo out of nowhere), which often catch us off-guard. He is someone who realises as England manager that his clothing will bear scrutiny. He let us know something about his maverick style of management when, like some rebellious auteur, he did up the bottom button of his waistcoat. This kind of recalcitrance is hard to predict and opponents must find things hard to plan as a result.
If Southgate can set the tone through his clothes, then the players will respond
There is a serious point to be made also about his lapels.
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