2020 vision SOUTHGATE WILL NOT PLAY GAMES TO AVOID BIG GUNS
SECOND PLACE could be just the ticket for England next summer – to smooth their passage to Wembley glory.
The Three Lions were handed a friendly Euro 2020 draw with Group D games against Croatia and Czech Republic with either play-off hopefuls Scotland, Israel, Serbia and Norway sandwiched in the middle.
But if Gareth Southgate’s stars top their section they face the nightmare scenario of a round of 16 clash with either world champions France, holders Portugal or tournament specialists Germany in Dublin.
Finishing second, though, gives England an easier route and they would face the runners-up of Group E which includes Spain, Sweden and Poland.
But Southgate insisted last night his stars are keen to storm through to build vital momentum. He said: “We want to win every game we play and have control of our destiny and then fortune will take you wherever it takes you.
“The two teams we know in Croatia and the Czechs, we’ve had good results and poor results against them.
“It’s nothing to be complacent about but everyone not drawn in Group F (the so-called Group of Death) will be pleased about that.
“But Croatia at Wembley is a brilliant opening game for the fans and the players.”
Southgate was a player in 1996 when England hosted the tournament and he wants to tap into the wild support home fans whipped up 24 years ago.
He added: “This is a summer to be cherished and enjoyed.
“We are at Wembley. We want to make Wembley somewhere teams fear coming. We do that by the levels of our performance and the atmosphere.”
England have the chance of World Cup revenge over Croatia who taunted Southgate and his stars for fans singing, “It’s coming home” in Russia.
He doesn’t view the clash as a chance for revenge and said: “You can’t make up for losing a World Cup semi-final unfortunately.
“We felt like that after the Nations League. It was nice to beat them but it didn’t redress it. I know if I was in the Croatian team which game I would rather have won. That semi has gone but our game with them next summer is a really attractive fixture.”