Southgate: We’re ready for ‘biggest game in a decade’
BUT ENGLAND BOSS ADMITS COLOMBIA WON’T BE PUSH-OVERS
GARETH Southgate is confident England will rise to the ‘fantastic challenge’ posed by Colombia and reach the World Cup quarter-finals.
With qualification to the knockout phase assured after wins against Tunisia and Panama, the Three Lions boss made eight changes against Belgium’s back-ups in what proved a drab Group G finale.
Adnan Januzaj’s exquisite effort secured Roberto Martinez’s men a 1-0 win on Thursday which enabled them to top the pool, with Southgate focused on protecting key men and keeping squad players happy rather than chasing the point that would have meant England won the group.
An easier-looking World Cup path now awaits, but that is tempered by the Three Lions’ loss of momentum and tough last 16 tie against Colombia on Tuesday.
“I thought Senegal would also be a very tough game in a different way, so I think all of that group was up in the air,” Southgate said of the Group H side that eventually finished behind Colombia and Japan.
“Colombia have got some outstanding individuals, but I believe it’s a game we can win. It’s going to be a fantastic challenge for us. The numbers they’ve got supporting them is clear.
“But we feel we’re a team who are improving. We’ve still got levels to reach. “But that’s nothing we didn’t know.” Southgate’s changes against Belgium, and the fact star names such as Harry Kane remained on the bench at 1-0 down, suggested he was in no mood to chase the game, but he is comfortable with the approach he took.
“Whatever happens next week, that was the right decision as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
“People will say ‘well, that will only be the right decision if we win’ but it was the right decision because we would potentially be going into a match that could go to extratime and risking players we didn’t need to risk. Which half of the draw (is best)? Who knows what’s right or wrong?
“Our key is a knockout game that we’re hugely looking forward to.”
Southgate believes Tuesday is England’s ‘biggest match in a decade,’ which is why it would have been ‘ridiculous’ to risk Golden Boot leader Kane in chasing against Belgium. The former defender pointed to Colombia star James Rodriguez’s injury in their final group game as an example of this risk he would be taking.