STARS AND STRIKES
Southgate wants England players to create history against the USA tonight
GARETH SOUTHGATE has told his players to “make history” ahead of their showdown with the United States in Qatar.
England have never beaten the USA in a major tournament, having lost to them in 1950 in one of the biggest shocks ever at a World Cup, before being held to a draw in 2010.
But Southgate has warned his team against complacency on the back of their 6-2 thumping of Iran and says the biggest danger would be any hint of arrogance. The England boss (right) laughed when asked by an American journalist about a headline of “EASY” being plastered on a front page before the World Cup 12 years ago
But he was quick to issue a reminder to skipper Harry Kane (above) and his Three Lions teammates, saying: “Have we ever beaten the States in
a major tournament? No, I didn’t think so. We have to try to make history. We’re good at talking highly of ourselves as a nation, on the basis of very little evidence. We’re good at that.
“What we’ve got to do is perform on the field. We know that we will play a highly-motivated team, perhaps even more motivated because of some of those type of headlines. But we have got huge respect for our opponent.
“We know a lot of their players from the Premier League and the quality they have, the athleticism they have.
“We have to be at our best. I don’t think we will be underestimating the USA team at all.” Southgate (above, left) is set to name an unchanged line-up to face the States, but says no one should expect another goal rush in the second group match, after his men celebrated hitting six against Iran (left).
He added: “The risk for us is that we think, because we played well the other day, we can just go through to the next game. We’ve got to find that reset button to have the same psychology, the same determination. I do see that in the players.
“All our players are playing at big clubs and have to perform every week. They know when they come with England, they have got to do the same.”