GARETH HAILS ‘BIG MOMENT’
SOUTHGATE IMPRESSED AS ENGLAND ‘SUFFER’ IN FIGHTBACK TO BEAT WORLD’S TOP-RANKED TEAM
GARETH SOUTHGATE hailed victory over the No.1 team in the world as a ‘big moment’ for his young England team and admitted they had to do it the hard way.
The Three Lions came from a goal down to defeat Kevin De Bruyneinspired Belgium 2-1 behind closed doors at Wembley yesterday to record a memorable win.
A penalty from Marcus Rashford (right) and a deflected Mason Mount winner handed England three Nations League points after Romelu Lukaku had put the visitors ahead from the spot in the first half.
England boss Southgate said: ‘You don’t come into these games and play their level of quality without having to deal with problems and we had to see that spell through.
‘What pleased me was that we had the resilience to see it through, then you’ll get your opportunities and the game will start to open up.
‘You have to suffer to win these big games and the players did that.’
Southgate felt beating the topranked side was a sign of progress. ‘They are games of concentration, games of detail and for our guys to come through that is a big moment,’ he added.
‘We’re not going to face a more complicated game defensively. They’ve got a bit of everything in their ranks. In De Bruyne they have a special player.’
Southgate revealed left-back Ben Chilwell, who missed the game having been ill after an initial negative test for coronavirus, trained yesterday and could be involved against Denmark on Wednesday.
Nations League