No mental gymnastics needed. He's just not good.
He's won more competitive games and scored more competitive goals than any other england manager, he's won more tournament matches and scored more tournament goals than any other manager.
He's done this despite having to rip apart a failed team, and start with kids.
He's done it despite having very limited defenders available to him. People complain that 'he has the most talented squad of players ever', but it's rubbish. Man for man compare 2001 vs Germany vs this team...
David Seaman a class above Pickford, in 2001 Seaman had won 7 trophies to pickfords 0 today. Had played over 50 games in europe compared to pickfords 6.
Neville vs Walker. It's a tight call
Rio Ferdinand vs John Stones, Ferdinand is one of our best ever CBs and a class above Stones
Maguire vs Sol Campbell....it's Cambell every day of the week
Trippier vs Ashley Cole. Cole was far better
Gerrard vs Rice - no contest it's Gerrard
Scholes vs Philips haha
Beckham vs Saka. Saka is a great talent but at this point in his career he isn't the game winner Beckham was in 2001
Barmby vs Sterling.....Sterling obviously
Kane vs Hesky--- Kane
Owen vs Mount --Owen
You could equally compare to several other teams.
So you could make an argument for Kane, Sterling and Walker are good enough to get in our 2001 side. The rest are not as good, it's a fallacy that this is the best england squad ever, it's not in the top 3 talent-wise in my lifetime. There's plenty of young talent that might or might not come good, but while they lack the experience you can't claim they're the best squad of players.