The 32: Southgate's Euro 96 heartbreak 'makes him a better manager'

Laura Bassett and Gareth Southgate are part of a small and unique club: they have both been directly responsible for an England exit from a major tournament.

England boss Southgate missed the decisive kick as the Three Lions crashed out of Euro 96 on penalties, whilst Bassett scored an unfortunate own-goal in the last minute of extra-time to eliminate the women from the 2015 World Cup.

Both of those moments came in semi-finals and both players had to deal with the reaction, although Bassett knows Southgate’s name was talked about on a much larger scale.

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Speaking to Yahoo Sport’s daily World Cup show, The 32, Bassett said that the guilt never goes away, but does believe it has shaped Southgate as a manager and made him a better one.

“I think he said he’s dealt with it all. So anything that happens in this tournament, he’ll have dealt with it and that experience is key,” Bassett explained.

“I think it really has [shaped him]. When you’ve dealt with those emotions and how much it affects your family, your team-mates and your staff – that doesn’t go away.

“You still look at those people and feel guilty and [question] why did it have to happen. [Now] he seems a really strong support network for his players.”

And Bassett revealed that time is not a great healer either.

“I think people think that over time it just goes away,” she added. “It does get a little bit easier because you grow up and so many things in life and football happen. But I think a support network is really important.

“You need a lot of people around you and it isn’t just going to go away. I’ve heard Gareth say he’s been through it and lived through it.

“Everything such as the media and the funny jokes. – when I landed back home, people came back straight with the banter and the jokes. You have to deal with what people throw at you.”