In a somewhat surprising bit of casting, Joseph Fiennes is set to play Gareth Southgate in a new play about the England manager’s “quiet reform” of the team leading up to the Euro 2020 final. What, was Steve Coogan not available?

Dear England is written by acclaimed playwright and TV writer James Graham, and is inspired by the Southgate’s journey from his infamous penalty miss for England against Germany at Euro 96, to leading England to their first major final since the famous 1966 World Cup victory.

The synopsis for the play, which will be staged at the National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre in London, reads as follows:

It’s time to change the game. The country that gave the world football has since delivered a painful pattern of loss. Why can’t England’s men win at their own game?

With the worst track record for penalties in the world, Gareth Southgate knows he needs to open his mind and face up to the years of hurt to take team and country back to the promised land.

I guess now we just have to wait and see which other major movie stars will be cast in the roles of the England team and their opponents during the Euros. Sir Ben Kingley as the villainous Giorgio Chiellini? Ryan Gosling as Harry Kane? Keira Knightley as Jack Grealish? I mean, it’s not completely out of the question if they’ve managed to land Joseph Fiennes – the star of The Handmaid’s Tale, American Horror Story, Shakespeare In Love and Enemy At The Gates – as Gareth Southgate.

Will be interesting to see how certain key moments play out, too. Like the part where Southgate leaves Marcus Rashford on the bench at the more recent World Cup loss against France. My guess is they’ll leave that part out. Hopefully he brings him on next time though?

For the body language expert who claims Harry Kane blamed Gareth Southgate for their World Cup loss, click HERE. Not sure about that one, but I guess he’s the expert.