Summer’s over, time for improvement - Southgate

Gareth Southgate is proud of England’s progress but now the focus returns to development as his World Cup heroes look to build on their Russian adventure.

Spain kick off the next cycle in today’s Uefa Nations League opener at Wembley, his side’s first game since their memorable summer run to the semifinals, and Southgate knows they cannot bask for long in the World Cup afterglow.

The 48-year-old, pictured, points to the fact there are only 20 matches and ten camps before Euro 2020 and stressed his side are far from a finished product.

“Over the summer you’re looking for results – now it’s about improving, developing the way we play,” said Southgate. “Improving the tactical detail of the way we play and testing ourselves over the next few months, in particular, against some really top teams.

“The summer was brilliant and it’s great that we have a full house and that everybody will feel the appreciation and that we can step out in front of our fans again. But for us now the summer is finished and it’s about the next step and the next challenges.

“Sport doesn’t stand still for anybody. You’ve got to move forward, continually evolve, increase that competition.

“I know the players are of the same mentality, they’re all of an age where what’s next is the most important thing.”

Having ended England’s major tournament knockout hoodoo to reaching the last four and finally winning a penalty shoot-out, the clash with Spain offers the chance to get another monkey off their back by beating a top side in a competitive match. “We want to test ourselves against the very best,” Southgate said. “The last 18 months we chose to play Brazil, Germany, Spain, Italy, so we weren’t hiding from those fixtures. “Back through history, England’s competitive record against top teams is non-existent. I think bar Argentina in 2002, who were a big disappointment in that tournament anyway, it’s very rare since the late ’60s or early 1970s that we beat those top teams.

“Historically it’s not impressive. Over the next couple of years we’d like to be going into Europeanchampionshipwith a record of beating top teams, so that you go in with that real belief and confidence.”