World Cup I’m incredibly proud of my players, says Southgate
GARETH Southgate spoke with immense pride after England’s wonderful adventure ended with defeat in the World Cup third-place play-off.
After plumping for promise over experience this summer, the callow Three Lions ripped up the script in Russia to reach the semi-finals for the first time in 28 years.
England fell agonisingly short of yesterday’s finale after an extratime defeat against Croatia, which was then compounded within 72 hours as Southgate’s emotionallydrained side lost 2-0 to Belgium.
Thomas Meunier caught them cold early and Eden Hazard halted an impressive second-half response to leave the Three Lions heading home without bronze medals.
Southgate was philosophical after the third-place play-off defeat in St Petersburg where, as always, he focused on the collective rather than himself.
“Well, I think as a manager, your job is to support the players, inspire the players, to give them the best possible way to be successful,” the manager said when asked if this summer had helped draw a line under his Euro 96 penalty miss.
“For me, it should never be about you. It’s about the team, and the group of staff and the fans. I’m incredibly proud of what the players have done.
“Today was always going to be a really difficult game. We’re playing one of the best teams in the world with some individual talent that is exceptional.
“We had two days to get ready. Some of the players couldn’t go again. They all wanted to but we knew we needed to refresh the team to have any chance in the game.
“So, it was an incredibly difficult game for us but in the second half the players were relentless in trying to keep going, actually played some good football, created some chances.
“Of course there was always a big problem on the counter-attack because of the way the opposition play and the quality of their individuals.
“But there were some incredible individual performances for us. I thought (John) Stones was abso-
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We’ve finished in the final four, but we are not a topfour team yet
lutely outstanding and (Jordan) Pickford has had a wonderful tournament.
“So, in the end we are very proud of what we’ve done. We’re under no illusions as to where we stand as a team.
“We’ve finished in the final four, but we are not a top-four team yet.
“We know that, we’ve never hidden behind that. Against the very best teams, we’ve come up short.
“But we’ve had a wonderful adventure and some experiences that will stand this group of players and staff in really good stead for the future.
“I couldn’t ask any more of any of my players today or right through the seven weeks we have worked together.”