With his goal of winning a knockout at the 2018 Football World Cup, England head coach Gareth Southgate says his team has a different mentality this time around. Taking on a team that suffered from a humiliating Euro 2016 exit to Iceland, few could have foreseen the heights that the national team would conquer during the 52-year-old's reign.
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England last summer won the European Championship against Italy in a penalty shoot-out, making a memorable run on the world stage in Russia in 2018. Southgate's team ended up losing in the extra-time semi-final to Croatia – an experience that has stood them in good stead as they prepare for their first Football World Cup play-off game since against Senegal on Sunday.
“Definitely compared to Russia, I think the whole group has a different mentality the England boss said in the bowels of the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium after the victory over Wales. There is more faith. Our goals are different. In Russia, we only thought about whether we can win a knockout? Now there are more expectations, but more confidence and experience of big matches. I don't know if we're ahead of last summer, but we're definitely happy that the first goal has been achieved.”
The mood of the team is good, we have most of the group on the field, which is unbelievable for the dynamic of the group, and there are really no yellow cards, I think it's a really good position for us. England advanced to the Round of 16 in Group B winners after beating Iran 6-2 and drawing 0-0 with the United States, beating Wales 3-0 outright on Tuesday night.
I'm really happy, but I was happy three or four days ago, Southgate said in an interview with talkSPORT. Nobody else was, so that's it. I think we played well and went through a difficult group. (against Wales) we were dealing with a situation that could be very tense, but our players showed their experience, they showed their class and I was very happy with how they handled it all.
Senegal will be hard. I saw them play Iran in Vienna about two months ago and they were very well organised, they have a lot of good individual players. Of course, many players play in the top European leagues and now the expectations will certainly rise, which is great.
We would give everyone a great night at home, which is what we want, so we have to get through this. Southgate welcomes the suspense and choice headaches that followed England's full performance against Wales. Marcus Rashford was among four substitutes on Tuesday and responded by scoring a stunning brace and Phil Foden also found the net after his calls to start the game were answered.
“These are good decisions to make because most of our attacking players got on the scoresheet or helped in some way and that's what you want, the England manager said as he looked forward to the match against Senegal. It keeps them engaged, it keeps them on their toes, and we have competition for places. But we also need depth and players who can come in and change the match.”
Rashford and Foden found the net, but Southgate was also quick to praise Captain Harry Kane for his contributions. The 2018 Golden Boot winner may not have scored in Qatar World Cup yet, but has provided three assists, including a super cross by Foden at the far post against Wales.
“We hope he saves goals until we really need them, Southgate told BBC Radio 5 live. But overall I was very pleased with the performance. It's a game that if you don't win, we'll still be talking about it 30 years from now. I think we'll finish talking about it by lunchtime (Wednesday), so it's life for us, but I'm very happy with how the players played.”
Southgate says big business is starting now with knockout football, but first comes a well-deserved break for his group. The players will have the day off to start, which is welcome and it gives us a little extra time to just look at all the Senegal games and take a look at them, Southgate said.
“Definitely helpful in terms of freshness, but we still need to get our workout periodization right so we don’t come in undercooked. But it's nice to have a couple of days that, unless you tell me something else, should be relatively quiet.”
Southgate's confidence in the group has led to a change in his behavior on the touchline, with the former defender remaining on the bench for the most part. During Covid, I got into the habit of standing there because you felt like they needed more support at the edge of the field without fans, he added.
“But I'm happier just waiting and using my chances, I don't really have to play every ball for the players. I trust them and it was a pleasure to sit and watch some more. Look, for some it won't be, but I don't feel like I need to be there to play all balls with them. They know what they are doing, they are prepared. They know that I will be there when they need me, and we also have a monitor where we can watch everything with a slight delay if something happens when you need to make some tactical decisions.”
Ben White's Football World Cup is over
Ben White has gone home from the Qatar Football World Cup for personal reasons and is not expected to return to the England squad. The 25-year-old defender, who spent time on loan at Leeds United early in his career, was named to Gareth Southgate's 26-man team in Qatar after an impressive start to the season at Arsenal. For more know about France vs Poland Tickets.
White did not feature in England's first two Group B matches and missed Tuesday's 3-0 win over Wales due to illness. The Arsenal defender is not expected to return to the squad until the end of the tournament.
“We ask that player privacy be respected at this point in time.”
No substitution is possible at this stage of the Football World Cup and Arsenal shared the FA's statement on their social media along with the caption We're all with you Ben and a love heart emoji. White was in his second major tournament with England, having been included in the squad that reached the final of the European Championship last summer.
The defender did not appear during the tournament and has won only two matches since, bringing his total tally to four. Southgate's original selection remained unchanged until White's news. James Maddison looked dubious after being sidelined during Leicester's final but was on the bench against Wales, having overcome a knee complaint that saw him miss the first two games.
Kyle Walker made his first start since groin surgery in October when England beat Wales on Tuesday with Calvin Phillips getting a few minutes behind the belt while he recuperates from shoulder surgery.
Gareth Southgate, meanwhile, knows England have to deal with heightened expectations in Qatar but says there is more faith and confidence in the team than when they reached the Football World Cup semi-finals four years ago. Taking on a team that suffered from a humiliating Euro 2016 exit to Iceland, few could have foreseen the heights that the national team would conquer during the 52-year-old's reign.
England last summer won the European Championship against Italy in a penalty shoot-out, making a memorable run on the world stage in Russia in 2018. Southgate's team ended up losing in the extra-time semi-final to Croatia – an experience that has stood them in good stead as they prepare for their first Football World Cup play-off game since against Senegal on Sunday.
“Definitely compared to Russia, I think the whole group has a different mentality, the England boss said. There is more faith. Our goals are different. In Russia, we only thought about whether we can win a knockout? Now there are more expectations, but more confidence and experience of big matches. I don't know if we're ahead of last summer, but we're definitely happy that the first goal has been achieved.”
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