END THE SHAME
Southgate’s call to restore England pride
GARETH SOUTHGATE has ordered his side to put the pride back into English football during a rousing address to his players.
The interim England manager, who held talks with new FA chairman Greg Clarke yesterday, met his players for the first time at St George’s Park on Tuesday and took the opportunity to hold two group sessions. The first took place at around 1pm, shortly after the players reported for duty.
He introduced himself to the squad and held a debriefing of last month’s 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Slovakia, Sam Allardyce’s one and only game in charge, playing footage of the match in Trnava.
After his first training session, Southgate organised a second, more thorough team meeting in which he told the squad it was up to them to steady the ship following a tumultuous 10 days for English football.
Southgate believes there were many positives
to emerge from Allardyce’s short reign and insisted he does not want to make drastic changes. He also made a point of speaking to every player individually during his first night with the squad. Following Tuesday’s open session, Southgate worked with his players privately yesterday as he gears up for the World Cup qualifier against Malta on Saturday. England’s players were inspired as a clutch of 1966 World Cup winners, including Sir Geoff Hurst, Roger Hunt and George Cohen, watched them being put through their paces. Southgate is understood to be keen on accommodating strike duo Marcus Rashford and Daniel Sturridge in his starting XI. The England manager will be without first-choice centre forward Harry Kane, who is nursing an ankle injury. Theo Walcott, who has not started a game for England since October 2015, is also in the running for a place after his blistering start to the season with Arsenal. But perhaps the biggest call Southgate will make is whether to start Wayne Rooney. Southgate has retained the Manchester United star as captain but his role in the England team has come under intense scrutiny in recent months, particularly after Allardyce seemed to suggest Rooney had the freedom to play wherever he chose. The feeling is that Southgate will persist with Rooney, believing his experience and leadership qualities will be vital to ensure England emerged unscathed from Saturday’s Wembley encounter after a damaging fortnight. Southgate met Clarke yesterday as he prepares for his England job audition. The former Middlesbrough boss has been placed in charge for four games and could be handed the reins on a permanent basis if he impresses and results are positive. Clarke will play a key role in appointing the next full-time England manager.