WE CAN LIVE THE DREAM
Southgate believes the Three Lions are poised for their most successful era since lifting the World Cup in ’66
GARETH SOUTHGATE has challenged his players to seize a “massive opportunity” to enjoy England’s best 18 months in more than half a century.
He was handed a dream qualifying draw for a 2020 European Championship which will be hosted by a number of countries with the final at Wembley.
The Three Lions have already reached next summer’s Nations League finals, setting up what could be the nation’s most memorable period since the 1966 World Cup win.
Southgate said: “It can be a really exciting 18 months. We’ve this coming summer to look forward to and then a big chance because we host and we have to make sure we are there.
“That could be an incredibly exciting two-year period from the World Cup right through and a great opportunity for our players. We’ve had one very enjoyable summer, the next two can be even more so if we get it right.
“If you look at any major Olympics or football events, normally hosting it brings a different focus, brings some pressures. It’s an advantage. So you have to capitalise on those moments and that’s why it’s not a bad thing we have to deal with expectation.”
England will play the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Kosovo in Group A. As draws go, they do not get much easier. Southgate (above) knows there can be no excuses.
Having reached the World Cup semi-final, they now have a comfortable path to the Euros which will evoke memories of Euro 96 and Southgate’s penalty shoot-out heartbreak.
But he feels England’s next generation are ready to seize their moment and build on their achievements, which included qualifying for the Nations League semi-finals.
Young players such as Jadon Sancho, Joe Gomez and Harry Winks suddenly have the opportunity to become legends, with Raheem Sterling (below) also established as arguably the best player in the Premier League. Rather than warn against complacency, Southgate went on the front foot and insisted the squad must deal with being cast as hot favourites to win the group.
He said: “Look it’s up to us, isn’t it? We’re favourites and that’s something we have to start getting used to anyway.
“We’re going to have high expectations over the next few years and adapting to that is probably key to our development as a team now.
“Once you’re seeded, inevitably you draw a group you should be in charge of.
“Germany was the obvious outlier in Pot B and there were some teams like Serbia, and tricky fixtures like some other home nations, who you could end up with.
“It is exciting for us to think we’re at home for Euro 2020. I don’t think you can ever underestimate the impact the crowd have on the players and I know performance sometimes generates that energy, so it works both ways.
“The team will perform at a higher level when the atmosphere and excitement is there. So it feels as if we’ve got that connection back and we have to make sure we keep that going.
“I don’t think we should limit in their minds what’s possible for these players. I was at Chelsea the other night to see Callum Hudson-Odoi. You’ve Morgan Gibbs-White breaking in at Wolves. So anything for those lads is possible.
“How quickly it happens and how quickly they’re ready to challenge for a place and then be ready to win is another matter. They need those experiences under pressure.” *Guaranteed at least a place in the play-offs as a Nations League group winner.
The top two teams in each group automatically qualify for Euro 2020, with the final four places at the tournament decided through a 16-team play-off.