SOUTHGATE PRAISES TEAM’S RESILIENCE

ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate revealed his pride in the defensive steel that consigned Germany and Brazil to successive Wembley shutouts.

Having kept the world champions to a 0-0 draw on Friday night, a youthful Three Lions side again proved their mettle, repeating the trick against the attacking brilliance of Neymar and company.

The FA’s marketing team were probably not envisaging 180 minutes of goalless football when they unveiled the top two sides in the world as England’s final opponents of 2017 but Southgate was left invigorated by the experience.

As a former centre-half, he appreciates the work that went into both results and comes away convinced that the foundations of his side are sturdy enough to cope with all comers at next year’s World Cup.

“The resilience collectively and individually was absolutely outstanding,” he said.

“They’re not going to face more difficult tests than they’ve had in the two matches we’ve just had. We had the best defensive record in Europe in qualifying and we’ve played the best two teams in the world and not conceded.

“In terms of heart, resilience and spirit it was up there with anything I have been involved in.

“I was probably more proud than I was against Germany because we played, I think, the best team in the world.”