Southgate keen on Dublin trip as Poles explore base

ENGLAND will be coming to Dublin if they win their Euro 2020 group and their manager, Gareth Southgate, resorted to stereotype to highlight his enthusiasm.

“Get the Guinness on!”, said Southgate on Saturday evening. “We would love to be there.”

That last 16 tie could be the highlight of Ireland’s co-hosting of the competition if Mick McCarthy’s team miss out.

The winners of England’s group will meet the runners up from the Group Of Death – Group F – which pitted Germany, France and Portugal together.

Croatia are England’s opponents for top spot so, either way, a clash of substance is on the cards.

An invasion of English fans on these shores would inevitably ask questions of the security operation.

It would also make life interesting for former Ireland midfielder Declan Rice whose form has attracted negative comment from pundits - including Roy Keane.

“Declan is a character whom we love working with,” said Southgate.

“He’s obviously a good player and it’s fascinating to see in the last few months how some people have become critical of him.

“If he was not a good player then they would not be worried about him. We are really pleased with the way that he is maturing.”

Poland are definitely coming to Dublin and they are preparing to make Ireland their base camp for the competition. They have a trip to Bilbao to face Spain sandwiched between their Aviva dates.

Officials have made queries about Carton House already and after Ireland fans became local favourites in 2012, the Polish delegation expect a warm welcome – although they are potential rivals. Either way, the massive Polish population here will back them.

“That will definitely be an asset for us,” said Polish FA secretary Maciej Sawicki. “Polish and Irish people are very close so we will feel as if we are at home.”