Well you can take Southgates opinion seriously because England have gone further than any other team in years. Unless you think they would have won the entire thing if Chris Smalling was on the pitch... that in itself is laughable.
Yes, but how did England do against top opposition?
England won three games at the World Cup. Panama, number 74 on the FIFA Ranking list, Tunisia, number 28 on the FIFA Ranking list, and Sweden, somehow they are number 14 on the FIFA Ranking list. They drew against Colombia, who are number 12 on the FIFA Ranking list. And lost twice to Belgium, who are on top and once against Croatia, who are in sixth.
Yes Southgate did at good job. But this is probably the best team England has had in years. Maybe not the best players but now they seem more united and that is something very important. And besides that are players like Kane, Sterling, Alli and so on top players. Pickford might not be seen as a world class player goalie, but his performances in the WC were world class.
So that is a bad example from you.