Young Lions to the fore
Southgate looking forward to Belgium test as England build towards Euro 2024
GARETH SOUTHGATE is looking forward to seeing new players in another high-level test as England continue to “build towards the summer” by hosting Belgium fresh from their defeat to Brazil.
Among the favourites to become continental champions in Germany, the Euro 2020 runnersup are third in FIFA’s world rankings and organised March friendlies against the two nations directly below them.
Five-time world champions Brazil sit fifth and on Saturday inflicted England’s first defeat since their World Cup quarterfinal exit to France 15 months ago, with 17-year-old substitute Endrick sealing a late 1-0 triumph.
Southgate was pleased despite their 10-match unbeaten run ending as Euro 2024 comes into sight and is looking forward to another stern Wembley test against a Belgium side sat fourth in the world rankings.
“Belgium have played a different 11 probably, or close to, so they’re going to be a bit fresher,” the England boss said after the Red Devils drew 0-0 away to the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.
“But similar to (Brazil) we’re talking about a high-level game, brilliant experience for the players, a chance to see new players again, build towards the summer.
“I’m not disappointed with the level of performance. I know in the end when you lose the game then there will always be a negative reaction to losing.
“But my thought was, with 15 minutes to go given all the changes that we’d made, I thought the crowd was already with the team.
“They could see a lot of young players going in and doing well, a lot of very inexperienced players going in and doing well, so I’m not down on the performance of the team at all.”
Put to Southgate in a separate interview with BBC Radio 5 Live that it must hurt that England lost their unbeaten run ahead of the Euros, he said: “Well, it does because we had an unbeaten year.
“But we deliberately took two really high-level games and of course we’ve had to put out a very different team to the one we might have envisaged.
“So, we’ve still learned an awful lot ahead of the summer that’s really important. You know, some of these boys are pushing for starting positions, some are pushing for places in the squad.
“You need to see them against that sort of level of opposition to see if they’re going to be able to excel in the summer.”
Southgate praised Anthony Gordon, Ezri Konsa and Kobbie Mainoo after their debuts against Brazil, with defender Jarrad Branthwaite hoping to follow suit by making his bow against Belgium.
One-cap Ivan Toney and James Maddison are sure to come in having been the only other two unused outfield players for the penultimate match before the England boss selects his provisional Euros squad.
Joe Gomez, Lewis Dunk, Jarrod Bowen and Marcus Rashford joined Konsa and Mainoo in coming off the bench against Brazil and also have something to prove ahead of Southgate’s selection.
Jordan Henderson and Cole Palmer also appear to be in contention after returning to training on the day of the Brazil match, but Kyle Walker has been ruled out after limping off early in Sunday’s friendly.
Walker follow Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka and Sam Johnstone in withdrawing from an absentee-hit final camp before the Euros.
Walker and Maguire started the Brazil match but have now left the England camp through injury, as has back-up goalkeeper Johnstone, ahead of tomorrow’s clash.
“Maguire, Walker and Johnstone have returned to their respective clubs for assessment having sustained injuries in recent days,” the Football Association said in a statement yesterday.
“There’s a whole range and raft of reasons for the number of injuries,” Southgate said.
“What’s clear is we’ve got a long list of 40-odd players and a third are unavailable, which is the highest we’ve ever had, no question.” – The Independent