Kids get a chance
Supporters want to see us win not sulk, blasts Three Lions boss
GARETH SOUTHGATE wants England to finish the Nations League on a high and give fans something to cheer instead of jeer.
The Three Lions are licking their wounds following Thursday’s semi-final defeat to Holland. England’s hopes of winning silverware for the first time since 1966 were left crushed in Guimaraes. Ronald Koeman’s men came from behind to win 3-1 in extra time and book a final showdown with Portugal in Porto tomorrow night.
It was England’s fourth successive defeat in the semi-finals of a major tournament.
Now all they have left to look forward to is a meaningless third-place play-off game against Switzerland tomorrow.
There will be little at stake but pride for Southgate’s players.
But he has told his flops to forget about sulking and focus on digging deep to put on a show for the supporters.
Travelling fans clashed with riot police in Porto this week to bring more shame on the nation.
But despite the trouble, Southgate still believes fans deserve to see their side win to reward them for making the trip to Portugal.
He said: “We have to do that (give everything).
“We have thousands of fans here, ■ from JEREMY CROSS in GUIMARAES and we owe them that, absolutely everything.
“The mentality of the group is that we do that right the way through, and we have to do that on Sunday.
“It is no use complaining about it, we have to go out and give it our all.”
Southgate is expected to ring the changes for the clash with the Swiss.
He could decide to change all 11 as he cobbles together a side from a squad of players that have endured a long and punishing season.
Marcus Rashford is out with a sore ankle, Jordan Henderson is nursing a tight hamstring and _ several have been struck with cramp.
It means he will give run outs to Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Danny Rose, Tom Heaton, Michael Keane and Eric Dier.
None of those involved in the Champions League Final started against the Dutch, making a mockery of how the season is scheduled.
But whoever starts the game, Southgate insists those selected will not waver from the blueprint he is working from when it comes to making England so we give one of the best sides in the world. He added: “We have to see who can go out there. We have got to try to freshen it up.
“That’s our best chance of getting a result, to freshen it as much as possible.
“It was just a night against Holland when we’ve made errors that, at any level, would be hugely costly.
“It’s difficult to know why individual errors like that could happen and can spread.
“I can only say that to play the way we want to play takes courage and when it doesn’t work out, then it’s very difficult for the players. “It’s easy to turn round and kill them.
“But we have some defenders who are prepared to take the ball in areas where many defenders in the world aren’t.
“It’s been the bedrock of how we’ve progressed and we have to continue it, but of course, we can’t make the mistakes we did.” case towards the end, so it was one of the number of difficult selection issues we had to deal with.”
Stones was at fault for two of Holland’s goals as Ronald Koeman’s men came from behind to win 3-1 in extra time.
And he looked distraught as he left the Estadio D Afonso Henriques and refused to speak to the media.
The former Everton defender looked a nervous wreck from start to finish and Southgate believes his lack of game time with Guardiola’s side was a crucial factor.
Stones, who began the season alongside Laporte in the City defence, started just one of the last 10 games as Guardiola’s men went on to complete an historic domestic Treble.
The England boss believes his lack of match sharpness contributed to his problems in Portugal – and says he needs to think about his situation at the Etihad.
Southgate said: “I know he is going to get criticism. I am here to support him.” will also be given a chance to impress after returning from loan spells.
Former misfits Michy Batshuayi and Kurt Zouma could also be welcomed back into the squad.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport yesterday confirmed Chelsea have appealed against the two-window ban for breaking rules governing the signing of young players.
But it was also revealed that the club have NOT made a formal request to have that sanction frozen while CAS hears the appeal.
Chelsea hope to have the punishment reduced or revoked altogether but have no idea how long the court hearing will take.
Meanwhile, Hazard’s Belgium team-mate Kevin De Bruyne said the winger had “earned the right” to his big-money move to Real Madrid.