KOSOVO ENGLAND
smile on Tammy Abraham’s face when he gets his first goal for England the other night.that almost makes everything worthwhile.”
That final sentence is evidence it has been a tough week for Southgate, whatever his outward demeanour.
Now he has to plan the
Euro 2020 campaign.
After today’s match there is likely to be a home friendly against bigname opponents next
March.
England can’t play at
Wembley in the build-up to the tournament so there may be a couple of away matches somewhere in Europe as warm-ups.
Problems remain for Southgate to resolve, most pertinently finding a settled partnership in central defence. Harry Winks, for the moment, looks favourite for the other troublesome position of holding midfielder.
He has played in a Euro semi-final in 1996 and managed England to the same stage of the World Cup last year. Can he go one stage further?
“I think most of our players are going to peak in two to four years time,” said the England boss.
“So there’s a reality of where we might be as a team.we have to find a way to get the maximum out of them.then let’s see how far we can get.there is a huge goal of getting to a semi-final and final at Wembley.” been a difficult week but it’s one that will make him stronger.”
Sterling will return to the team tonight, but Leicester midfielder
James Maddison is a doubt with a calf problem. Southgate added: “We have qualified but we still have a desire to win the game because the seedings for the finals could be important.’’