Southgate set to make changes to face Swiss
GARETH Southgate will ring the changes for England’s friendly against Switzerland tonight, insisting his job is to promote the long-term health of the national side rather than protect his own record.
The Three Lions’ 2-1 defeat to Spain at Wembley, in what was both their inaugural Nations League fixture and a celebration of their charge to the World Cup semi-finals, means the squad are in danger of becoming the first England team to lose four senior internationals in succession.
Those looking for mitigation do not have to search far. The defeats to Croatia and Belgium were in the last four of a tournament, territory that many of the current side’s predecessors failed to tread, while Saturday’s setback came in a brand new competition.
Nevertheless, Southgate would be forgiven for sending out his strongest XI in a bid to end the break on a high at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.
Instead he is ready to make serious alterations in a bid to offer much-needed game time to those who need it and preserve others who have been denied a post-Russia break.
“Statistics can be whatever you want them to be. I’ll have to live with whatever people want to say about my record. I’m comfortable in my own skin,” he said.
“That focus will come on me and I’m not concerned about it. Otherwise I’d make decisions just to boost my win record. In the build-up to last summer we played Germany, France, Spain...if it was about my win record I probably wouldn’t make those decisions. Decisions are made to develop the team.
“We’ve got players who are an important part of our squad, there’s a lot of competition for places and close calls for who the firstchoice players will be.”