OASIS OF CALM
Southgate warns his Lions: Don’t lose your heads in desert ‘derby’
GARETH SOUTHGATE has ordered England to keep their cool in the red-hot heat of tonight’s World Cup showdown with Wales.
The Three Lions will look to kick up a desert storm in Doha when they take on Robert Page’s men in the first ever World Cup meeting between the British rivals.
And to add extra spice to the occasion, England know a win would see them top Group B and leave the Welsh having to pack their bags for home.
Southgate admits the clash will be akin to a derby – and has urged his stars to keep calm and don’t lose their heads. The England boss, who is expected to recall Jordan Henderson in midfield at the expense of Jude Bellingham, said: “Cup ties can be levellers, but we have to make sure our emotional focus is on what we do well.
“Our boys have got experience of these types of games. We have got to use the ball well, we’ve got to make sure we are thinking about how to break down a difficult defence.
“When you are at a World Cup there is only one story. You have to live with that and be strong enough and calm enough to come through that as a group of players.
“Wales is a different sort of challenge – a different sort of test.
“We have got to be able to manage that, cope with that and play well through that. If we can do that, we will be onto the next test, which will be completely different again.”
Southgate knows he has more players with greater experience of huge battles like this one, while this tournament is Wales’ first World Cup in 64 years.
He said: “We are fortunate that I think a lot of our players are on their second tournaments. They have lived it and know what it’s like.
“But this type of situation has always been there. Although to be honest you are never sitting comfortably – and if we were, that would be a worry, because you don’t want that comfort. You need an edge.”
Despite England’s clear advantage when it comes to talent and
experience, there is no escaping the fact the Three Lions are the team the Celtic nations love to try and beat the most.
Scotland proved this at the Euros when they raised their game to earn a creditable draw in the group stages at Wembley.
Southgate will warn his stars about having to cope with a pumped-up rival and he added: “When we played Scotland, physically they found a level they hadn’t found before – and couldn’t find in the game after.
“So that is the nature of this game.
“But you have to ride through that and make sure our quality counts, and we are composed in our play. You have to match the spirit and display the quality with the ball that allows us to be ruthless.
“We need to show all those aspects to our game that will make us a team that can win in the biggest possible tests.
“Any England game has a highly motivated opponent – and I don’t really see this being any different.”