Gareth’s reality check
further up the pitch. We have to find a way of winning through being more savvy.”
Southgate, whose likely back three would be Phil Jones, John Stones and Gary Cahill, with Everton man Keane as back-up, is excited about the challenge in Russia.
But the realist in him knows he does not have a squad capable of beating the best in the world on neutral territory.
He has got to try, though, and that is why he is considering a different formation to make the most of the players at his disposal.
And Southgate cannot stress enough the importance of playing against the best.
They will do that in Russia and also next month, with the back-to-back Wembley friendlies against world football superpowers Germany and Brazil.
The former England defender said: “Of course this team isn’t exactly where we want it to be.
“But it’s young and will improve.
“And it’s absolutely crucial for England to be on the biggest stage.
“The World Cup in Russia is going to be an exciting tournament.
“I was fortunate enough to be out there for a period in the summer during the Confederations Cup.
“The venues were really exciting, they had big crowds and well-organised events.
“We’ve been massively focused on getting there,
as we want that kind of experience for the squad and also for the whole country.” Next up for the Three Lions is today’s now dead rubber in Lithuanian capital Vilnius but Southgate insists this match will be taken seriously.
The England boss said: “We have a duty to the fans who are travelling to Lithuania and we also want to stay unbeaten in our group.” NEW-FOUND FORM: Phil Jones has matured BORN LEADER: Gary Cahill will bring experience ROCK STONES: John is key to the defence have it all to prove. I am the same as coach so I don’t disassociate myself from that.
“But they can’t consider themselves big players until they win big trophies. They’ve got a lot to prove. Myself included.
“Big players are Gerard Pique, Sergio Ramos, Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira. I could go on. We create a bubble in our country because of the Premier League, the money, the profile. We have it to prove. These guys are hungry.”
And fans at Wembley turned on England during the desperately dull 1-0 win over Slovenia on Thursday which secured qualification.
“We’re picking this up because of the Euro 2016 defeat by Iceland as much as anything – and 30 years of not succeeding to the level the country believes it should,” said Southgate.
“But if it’s 30 years, then our expectations are not in tune with reality. It’s not going to help them if the negativity is high.”
Meanwhile, Lithuania manager Edgaras Jankauskas has an unorthodox plan to halt “goalscoring machine” Harry Kane.
Jankauskas, who won the Champions League with Jose Mourinho at Porto, said: “The first plan would be to not let him into the stadium.
“We know he is in terrific form and to stop him, well, we have to pay a lot of attention and to use everything we can.”