STRESS REHEARSAL
Southgate to stage high-pressure penalty shoot-outs in front of Wembley crowds to avoid THIS in Russia...
GARETH SOUTHGATE is considering staging a penalty shoot-out to prevent England suffering more World Cup misery.
Southgate wants to put on penalties after a Wembley warm-up friendly next year, perhaps when England play host to Italy in March.
The Three Lions boss suffered his own nightmare when he missed against Germany at Euro 96 (below), while no side has lost more
World Cup and European Championship shootouts than England.
Former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson considered putting on a shootout after a friendly, but changed his mind and Southgate admits it is something he is considering.
It would be designed to replicate the pressure players feel at big tournaments ahead of the World Cup in Russia.
“Well, it’s something that we are considering and how we prepare best for penalty shootouts,” said Southgate.
“Whether that’s something on the training ground, whether that’s in sessions we do away from the training ground or something we do in some sort of match scenario, we’ve not finalised things like that yet. But clearly that is an option.”
Southgate has also warned that Joe Hart’s place as England’s No.1 is no longer safe after Jordan Pickford’s outstanding display against Germany.
Hart (above) will get his place back against Brazil, but Southgate says the young Lions have turned up the pressure with Jack Butland also in the frame, despite suffering a broken finger.
He added: “Jordan had an excellent game. It was good experience for him. He can go back, we assess him in the next period with his club and it’s good he goes away with a positive experience.
“We’re all aware that there’s good competition in that area of the pitch.”