England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley is anticipated to take over as interim head coach of the senior national team followingGareth Southgate’s departure.
The Football Association (FA) is actively searching for a new permanent manager after Southgate left his position following England’s defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
With upcoming Nations League fixtures against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, the FA needs a temporary solution, and BBC Sport reports that Carsley is set to be appointed on an interim basis.
While Carsley is considered a strong candidate for the permanent role, Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott has expressed support for this idea.
However, the FA is also considering foreign candidates, despite Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola having already declined the opportunity.
Carsley might see this as a promising chance to transition from the Under-21s to the senior team, following the paths of previous managers like Southgate, Stuart Pearce, and Howard Wilkinson.
After leading the U21s to European Championshipsuccess last year, Carsley will aim to secure victories in the forthcoming Nations League matches.
Gareth Southgate has resigned as England’s head coach following their defeat to Spain in the 2024 European Championship final.
In a statement, the former Middlesbrough manager expressed, “It’s time for change and for a new chapter.”
The official England handle on X (formerly Twitter) confirmed Southgate’s departure, bidding farewell to the manager after almost a decade in charge.
“After 102 games and almost eight years in charge, Gareth Southgate has announced he is to leave his role as manager of the Three Lions,” the statement reads.
Gareth Southgate became the head coach of the England national team in 2016 after a successful stint with the U21 team from 2013 to 2016.
During his eight-year leadership, he guided England to a fourth-place finish at the World Cup, their best performance since 1990, and reached the finals of the Euros twice consecutively.
He came close to victory in the 2020 Euros but lost to Italy on penalties. His second final defeat occurred against Spain on Sunday, July 14, 2024.
Gareth Southgate has
Read Southgate’s statement below
“As a proud Englishman, it has been the honour of my life to play for England and to manage England. It has meant everything to me, and I have given it my all.
“But it’s time for change, and for a new chapter. Sunday’s final in Berlin against Spain was my final game as England manager.
“I joined the FA in 2011, determined to improve English football. In that time, including eight years as England men’s manager, I have been supported by some brilliant people who have my heartfelt thanks.
“I could not have had anyone better alongside me than Steve Holland. He is one of the most talented coaches of his generation, and has been immense.
“I have had the privilege of leading a large group of players in 102 games. Every one of them has been proud to wear the three lions on their shirts, and they have been a credit to their country in so many ways.
“The squad we took to Germany is full of exciting young talent and they can win the trophy we all dream of.
I am so proud of them, and I hope we get behind the players and the team atSt. George’s Park andthe FA who strive every day to improve English football, and understand the power football has to drive positive change.
“My special thanks go to the backroom staff who have provided the players and me with unstinting support over the last eight years. Their hard work and commitment inspire me every day, and I am so grateful to them—the brilliant ‘team behind the team’.
“We have the best fans in the world, and their support has meant the world to me. I’m an England fan and I always will be.
“I look forward to watching and celebrating as the players go on to create more special memories and to connect and inspire the nation as we know they can.
Gareth Southgate delivered a heartfelt tribute to his longtime assistant, Steve Holland, on the eve of the Euro 2024 final against Spain.
Their professional relationship began when Southgate encountered Holland during his time in youth development at the FA, while Holland served as an assistant to André Villas-Boas at Chelsea.
Impressed by Holland’s methods and innovation, Southgate invited him to join as assistant coach for the England U-21 team in 2013, allowing him to continue his role at Chelsea, thus marking the beginning of their enduring partnership.
Together with the England senior team, they have achieved notable milestones, including two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final.
Despite their shared football philosophies, they bring distinct styles and personalities to their roles: Holland tends to be more vocal with players, while Southgate adopts a more measured approach.
This combination has proven effective in motivating players to perform at their best.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oo8UK4voL4
“Firstly, I could not do it without him,” Southgate told reporters. “He is a fantastic balance for me. His strengths eat up my weaknesses. He is so meticulous in his preparation.
“We have grown so close. The trust between us is immense and I could not have anybody better alongside me. He has won the Champions League, he has won the Premier League, everything.
He is a proud Englishman like me and there is one medal missing. We have brilliant staff right across the board but clearly, our relationship is really, really strong.”
On Sunday, Southgate and Holland aim for European championship glory, relying on their combined strengths and strategic insights to guide the Three Lions to victory over Spain in Berlin.
Their previous disappointment at Wembley three years ago surely offered valuable lessons, which they now intend to leverage against Luis De La Fuente’s side.
Lionesses star Beth Mead “begs to differ” with the claim thatGareth Southgateis the “only England manager to reach two major international finals.”.
The Three Lions have secured a clash with Spain in the Euro 2024 final, with major silverware on the line. This marks their second recent final appearance, having lost to Italy in a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium in 2021.
In contrast, England’s women’s team celebrated a significant victory by winning the European Championship a year later. They reached the 2023 World Cup final but were defeated by Spain.
Both of these achievements were guided by Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman, who has led the Lionesses since September 2021.
Phil Foden has expressedhis sympathy for Gareth Southgate, stating that the England players should shoulder the blame for their disappointing Euro 2024 performances.
With a quarter-final against Switzerland approaching, the team is under intense pressure to improve following their underwhelming showing in the tournament’s early stages.
Although their dramatic victory over Slovakia on Sunday offered some relief from criticism, the focus is now on delivering a stronger performance against Switzerland.
Foden openly acknowledged England’s struggles and empathized with Southgate, stressing that the players need to take more responsibility on the field and that the manager should not be held solely accountable for the team’s poor displays.
Talking to reporters, Foden said: “I feel sorry for Gareth. In training, he has been telling us to press and be high up on the pitch.
Sometimes it has to come from the players. We have to be leaders and I feel like in games we could have got together more and worked out a solution. We have spoken about it more and if it happens again we can find a solution and adapt our press.
“The players have to take some of the blame. There has to be some leaders to get together. There is only so much the manager can do. He sets you up in a system and tells you how to press.
You never decide when a person is going to drop deep as well. The players have to adapt to what the other team is doing to be better. Hopefully, you will see a different side to us pressing wise.”
Southgate has voiced worries about the fitness of his squad, particularly concerning key players such as John Stones, who has been managing injuries.
Stones was observed with strapping on his right knee during training, heightening concerns about his readiness to play. Despite these obstacles, Foden maintains a positive outlook on England’s chances against Switzerland.
“You can prepare for a game but you can’t prepare for players moving out of position and making it awkward for you. Hopefully, going into this game we can get it right,” he said.
England’s path through Euro 2024 has been rocky, yet there’s optimism that the early matches’ lessons will translate into a better performance in the knockout rounds.
Foden’s candidness about the team’s flaws shows a mature attitude toward tackling their problems.As they gear up to face Switzerland, the emphasis is on unity, tactical precision, and a strong resolve to progress further in the tournament.
Gareth Southgate has expressed concern over the “unusual atmosphere” surrounding the England team after they faced boos despite topping Group C.
He urged supporters to stand behind the team, regardless of their feelings towards him personally.
England managed only four shots on target in a lackluster performance during the latest match, yet they secured top spot in the group as Denmark drew with Serbia.
The team received boos from fans both at half-time and full-time at the RheinEnergieSTADION. After the game, Southgate approached the England supporters to show his appreciation; while some reacted positively, others booed and a few beer cups were thrown towards him.
Southgate’s contract with the Football Association expires in December, with a decision on his future to be made after the tournament concludes.
Some fans have questioned whether he is still the right man to lead England after eight years in charge and Southgate said of the full-time reaction: “I understand it. I’m not going to back away from it. The most important thing here is that the supporters stay with the team.
“I understand the narrative towards me and that’s better for than it being towards them. But it is creating an unusual environment to operate in. I’ve not seen any team qualify and receive similar.
“I recognise that when you have moments at the end of the game, I’m asking the players to be fearless, I’m not going to back down from going over and thanking the fans who were brilliant during the game.
“They might feel differently towards me. But for me, we only will succeed if we are together. That energy is crucial for the team and it is so important they stay with the team, however they feel towards me.”
Asked what had changed about the environment around the team, Southgate replied: “I think probably expectation. We’ve made England over the last six or seven years fun again. I think it has been enjoyable for the players. We’ve got to be very, very careful that it stays that way.”
Despite the mixed reaction from fans, England captainHarry Kanenoted an improvement in the team’s performance compared to their previous outing, a 1-1 draw against Denmark.
“That was the aim before the start of the tournament, come top of the group and control our destiny,” he told ITV. “I thought we played a lot better than the other games. We couldn’t just find that finish but we look forward to the next one.
“We created some half chances and there were some that we could maybe have done better.
“I think the boys who came on did really well and kept the energy high and that’s what we need. We need everyone chipping in and that’s what we are doing so far.
“These games are tough. We have been here before and stepped it up in the past when we have got to the knockouts. All games in this tournament are tough. It is going to be a difficult challenge ahead and we have enough ability to keep pushing.”
England must wait to learn their round-of-16 opponents but will play one of the four best third-placed in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday.
Earlier this month, England arrived in Germanyfor Euro 2024with high expectations of winning the tournament at the Olympastadion in Berlin on July 14th.
Despite leading their group, their campaign has faced unexpected challenges, starting with a narrow 1-0 victory over Serbia followed by a frustrating 1-1 draw against Denmark.
According to reports from The Guardian, tensions have surfaced among the players’ families.
Allegedly, after the lackluster draw against Denmark, when the players reunited with their families in Frankfurt, there was palpable tension among them.
Surprisingly, the discord did not stem from the match result itself but rather from concerns that manager Gareth Southgate favors certain senior players over those in better current form.
While the report implies dissatisfaction among players due to perceived biases from Southgate, the reality of his squad selection for the Euros’ 26-man squad paints a different picture.
Notably, Southgate opted to leave out several established names in favor of rising talents such as Adam Wharton, Kobbie Mainoo, Marc Guehi, and Eberechi Eze.
As England prepares for their final group stageclash against Slovenia on June 25th, both the team management and players are focused on moving past any internal tensions and uniting to achieve success in the tournament.
Kyle Walker has been appointed as England’s new vice captain ahead of the European Championship in Germany, according to sources.
The 34-year-old was informed of Gareth Southgate’s decision earlier this month, taking on a vital leadership role in a squad that has seen significant changes since the 2022 World Cup.
Southgate has revamped his squad, with only half of the 26 players who went to Qatar making the cut for Euro 2024.
Jordan Henderson, who was previously the vice captain, has been omitted from the squad after struggling to regain fitness following a muscular injury at Ajax.
Walker, who has 83 international caps, is now the second-most-capped player in the squad behind captain Harry Kane, who has 91 caps. Other notable absentees include Harry Maguire and Raheem Sterling.
Kieran Trippier and Declan Rice have been included in Southgate’s new leadership group, which aims to help integrate the 12 players new to senior tournaments into the squad for Euro 2024.
Trippier led England against Bosnia in their first warm-up game, and Rice was named captain in March on his 50th international appearance.
In other news, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford confirmed that John Stones, who had been dealing with an ankle issue and missed training due to illness, is fit and ready to play in Sunday’s Group C opener against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen. Stones participated fully in Friday’s training session.
England are considered favourites by many bookmakers to win their first major men’s trophy in 58 years, and Pickford has encouraged his teammates to embrace the challenge and perform under the spotlight.
“[In] Russia in 2018, there was no pressure on us,” he said. “But to be a top, elite team, you have got to have pressure. You have got to deal with it. To be one of the favourites, you have got to enjoy that pressure.
“That’s our goal [to win the tournament] but the most important thing for us is to win the first game, get out of the group, game-by-game focus on each game as it comes because you can’t look too far ahead.
“Everyone’s goal is to lift that trophy but it takes a hell of a lot of hard work to get there. There’ll be nothing more proud than lifting that trophy and bringing it home for the fans but there is so much hard work to do first.
“I know all the England fans will be rooting for us. They are passionate; everywhere in the country will be rooting for us and they’ll be having a good few days on the booze so it’ll be good.”
FA has yet to identifyGareth Southgate’s successor, despite the possibility that he might leave his England role if they fail to win Euro 2024.
The England squad, along with Southgate, has arrived in Germany, ready to compete in Euro 2024. Ahead of the continental tournament, the Three Lions’ boss hinted that he might consider stepping down after eight years if they do not secure the European Championship.
Harry Kane and his teammates are regarded as one of the favourites to win the trophy this year.
Speaking to BILD, he said, “If we don’t win, I probably won’t be here anymore. So maybe this is the last chance. I think around half the national coaches leave after a tournament—that’s the nature of international football.
“I’ve been here for almost eight years now and we’ve come close. You can’t constantly put yourself in front of the public and say, ‘A little more, please,’ as at some point people lose faith.
If we want to be a great team and I want to be a top coach, you must deliver in big moments.”
According to The Telegraph, despite ongoing speculation about 53-year-old Gareth Southgate’s future, the FA has not yet started the search for his potential replacement.
They are keen for Southgate to remain as England’s head coach beyond his current contract, which ends in December 2024.
However, with Premier League giants Manchester United showing interest, Southgate has been non-committal about his future ahead of the Euros.
The report also mentions that the FA is considering potential successors such as Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter, and Eddie Howe if Southgate decides to step down this summer.
Meanwhile, the Three Lions are set to begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on Sunday.
Jack Grealish might not make it to Euro 2024 with the Three Lions,as Gareth Southgate provided a concerning update on the Manchester City star.
Despite cutting his holidays short to join the England squad early, Grealish has faced a tough season with Manchester City.
His struggles were highlighted by his limited playtime, including being benched during the FA Cup final and starting only one of the last seven Premier League matches.
This inconsistency has cast doubt on his place in the England squad.
Speaking to reporters, Southgate said: “We think we know who the best have been across the season, but what we don’t totally know is how many we need to take or how many we can allow ourselves to take because of the cover we might need in other positions as well.
“It’s obvious this season he[Grealish]has not played as much as last season. I’m sure he would have liked that to be different but we know the qualities he can bring and the qualities he has.
He is a player we enjoy working with and a character we enjoy having within the group.
We know where we’re likely to be. It’s hard to be quite so specific because we keep sitting down and saying: ‘Okay, if it’s this or this’. Then somebody else in the room says, ‘What if we lose that player?’”
Gareth Southgate will be without several key players for the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James’ Park, as injuries have sidelined Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, and Bukayo Saka. Additionally, John Stones will be absent as he joined the squad late following the FA Cup final.
When questioned about Maguire’s availability for the Euro 2024 opener against Serbia on June 16 in Gelsenkirchen, Southgate’s response was cautious: “We don’t know that at the moment”.
Southgate’s approach to injury assessments is pragmatic and rooted in experience.
He candidly expressed his scepticism about players’ self-reports on their fitness and assured that his final decision will be driven by medical reports and will rely minimally on the player’s account.
“They’re lying buggers, really!” he said. “If you’re in a relegation battle, the treatment room is absolutely full. If you’re in a cup final, it’s empty. I’ve learned that from being here [at Middlesbrough] and playing cup finals as well.
“They have great intentions and are super positive, but equally, they want to be on the plane so they have got to have a more in-depth view than that. I’ll consult the players as little as possible,” said Gareth Southgate.
The urgency of Southgate’s task is heightened by the impending deadline to finalise his squad of 26 players by Saturday, meaning seven players will face the disappointment of missing out on the trip of Germany.
This critical selection process highlights the intense pressure on Southgate and his team as they aim to strike a balance between experience, fitness, and form in their selections.
While Grealish’s talent and flair are evident, his recent performance and fitness levels have raised concerns.
Mauricio Pochettino finds himself with a plethora of options for his next move after departing Chelsea at the conclusion of the season.
The Argentine manager has already begun contemplating his next steps following his departure from Stamford Bridge by mutual consent after just one season.
Pochettino has expressed interest in potentially taking over the England national team from Gareth Southgate, should the current Three Lions boss step down after Euro 2024.
Additionally, he is reportedly eyeing the managerial position at Manchester United, as per The Telegraph. Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad is also said to be interested in securing Pochettino’s services.
Pochettino has openly stated that he would welcome the opportunity to manage England, with the possibility of the role becoming available this summer. Southgate has hinted at retirement after Euro 2024 if England emerges victorious in the tournament.
However, Pochettino may receive alternative offers before such a scenario unfolds. Manchester United is expected to part ways with Erik ten Hag this summer, regardless of the outcome of the FA Cup final, and Pochettino is reportedly on their radar.
Under Pochettino’s guidance, Chelsea witnessed impressive attacking prowess from their young players in the Premier League this season, scoring a total of 51 goals from players under the age of 23.
This achievement marks a record in the competition’s history for the highest number of goals scored by a team in a single campaign by players of this age group.
Exiting Chelsea on a high note, Pochettino’s team concluded a challenging season with a winning streak that secured sixth place in the Premier League and European football for the upcoming season.
Joining the ranks of high-profile club managers departing their positions, including Thomas Tuchel, Massimiliano Allegri, Roberto De Zerbi, and Jurgen Klopp, Pochettino leaves Chelsea amidst a period of managerial transition.
As Chelsea embarks on the search for a new coach, they join the likes of Bayern Munich,Juventus, Brighton, and potentially Manchester United in seeking new leadership.
England manager Gareth Southgate has expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming 2026 World Cup, labeling it as an “amazing tournament.”
However, he has declined to confirm whether he will extend his tenure beyond this year.
At 53 years old, Southgate’s contract is set to expire in December. Sources close to ESPN indicate that the Football Association is eager for him to continue as manager, potentially leading the Three Lions into the first-ever 48-team World Cup, to be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Further reports from ESPN suggest that Southgate is being seriously considered as a potential replacement for Erik ten Hag if Manchester United opts to part ways with the Dutch coach in the near future.
Southgate previously deliberated over his future following England’s quarterfinal exit at the 2022 World Cup, ultimately reaching a decision to extend his contract beyond this summer’s European Championship in Germany.
In an exclusive interview with ESPN, Southgate said: “I think ’26 will be anamazing World Cup.I’m old enough to remember ’94 [in the U.S.] I didn’t go and obviously England didn’t qualify.
“But you know that any sporting event the U.S. are involved in hosting — and clearly Mexico ’86 I also remember — that will be an amazing tournament, which will be a different sort of challenge.
“If you think about the travel and the time zones compared to the last World Cup, it couldn’t be more different. Temperature changes, altitude and everything else that you could face. So that would also be an amazing tournament.” Pushed on whether it would tempt him to stay on, Southgate said: “That will depend on playing well, getting results and wanting to stay. Any number of things would be wrapped up in that. But that’s for after this summer, really.”
There are potential logistical problems if United do try to appoint Southgate this summer. United would ideally want their new manager in early to oversee what is expected to be a summer of significant change under new minority owners INEOS.
However, Southgate has previously branded speculation linking him with the United job as “completely disrespectful” and is adamant he won’t consider his options until after Euro 2024, the final of which takes place on July 14. United travel to Norway to face Trondheim on July 15.
When asked whether he believes he will be in management next season or whether he would need a break from the game if he left England, Southgate said: “I don’t have any vision of what next year will look like because everything for me depends on this summer. Everything is geared towards ‘how do we win this tournament.’
“We’re clearly one of the teams that can win it. There’s big expectation, which is completely understandable given what we’ve done over the last five, six years. We’re very comfortable with that expectation. It’s brilliant that our supporters are excited about the team but it’s pointless to me looking beyond that really.”
England suffered their first defeat since the World Cup as teenage star Endrick came off the bench to secure Brazil a late victory against Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 hopefuls.
The highly anticipated friendly, dominated by the controversy over an altered St George’s flag on the new shirt and speculation about the manager’s future, failed to live up to expectations.
Southgate’s injury-hit side survived a few scares before 17-year-old Endrick’s first senior international goal secured a 1-0 win at a sold-out Wembley, ending England’s 10-match unbeaten run.
Brazil, under new boss Dorival Junior, had the better chances in a stop-start game, with Lucas Paqueta hitting the post and Vinicius Jr and Raphinha also going close.
The night started with a minute’s applause to honor the recent passing of football figures such as Stan Bowles, Ron Baynham, Mario Zagallo, and Terry Venables.
Initially Endrick was like it's just another goal, then remembered it's against England & at f*cking WEMBLEY and celebrated like hell. https://t.co/mbFda6kgYb
Brazil, on a run of three straight losses, showed promise under their new manager, with Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr posing early threats.
England struggled to create clear chances, with Ollie Watkins and Phil Foden unable to test the Brazilian defense effectively.
Brazil continued to press, with Paqueta coming close to scoring before the break with a shot that went just wide.
Both teams made changes in the second half, including England giving 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo his debut.
In the 80th minute, a defensive error by Lewis Dunk allowed Andreas Pereira to set up Vinicius Jr, whose shot was saved by Jordan Pickford, only for Endrick to score the rebound.
England pushed for an equalizer, but Brazil held on for the win, marking England’s first defeat at Wembley since the Euro 2020 penalty shoot-out loss to Italy.
Man Utd fans have expressed their dismay at Gary Neville and Roy Keane for saying Gareth Southgate should be the next Red Devils’ manager.
Southgate has emerged as a potential successor to Erik ten Hag and it has been reported that United’s minority shareholder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is confident of luring the England manager to Old Trafford.
United legends Roy Keane and Gary Neville both told the Stick to Football podcast that Southgate would be a good appointment for the Red Devils.
Neville and Keane’s comments have been met with a furious response online from a number of United fans. X user @karthikeyan3108 wrote: “Neville should probably start keeping his opinions to himself considering his glorious stint as a manager himself.”
Fellow X user @United_Benj was also not keen on the idea of the England boss taking charge of United, suggesting he would be as bad as former Three Lions manager Sam Allardyce. “Dear god. Replacing Ten Hag with Southgate?! It might as well bring Big Sam in,” he wrote.
United fan @racheal_ifedayo also reacted with incredulity, writing on X: “What are they smoking? Why would we want Southgate fgs?”.
🚨 Roy Keane on Southgate possibly becoming the next #mufc manager: "I could see that happening." [Overlap] pic.twitter.com/0fuXer1AoH
Ten Hag received some relief after Manchester United’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Liverpool secured their spot in the FA Cup semi-final.
Despite this, his position remains precarious as United continue to linger in sixth place in the Premier League with slim hopes of Champions League qualification.
Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate stands as England’s most accomplished manager since Sir Alf Ramsey, guiding the Three Lions to the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in 2022, as well as leading them to the final of the recent European Championship, where they fell short against Italy in a penalty shootout.
Southgate’s contract with the Football Association extends until December, and he has opted to defer any decisions regarding his future until after the European Championship.
England is set to face Brazil on Saturday and Belgium on Tuesday.
United’s upcoming fixture against Brentford on March 30 presents an opportunity to narrow the gap on Tottenham for fifth place in the league standings.
As Ghana’s interest in young Manchester United player Kobbie Mainoo grows,Gareth Southgate is thinking of pushing the teenager through the England ranks more quickly, sources have informed ESPN.
Under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, the 18-year-old has shown enormous promise as a midfielder. On Sunday, he started his tenth straight game in all competitions as United defeated Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park.
Mainoo is qualified to change his allegiance to Ghana, the country of his parents’ birth, despite having played for England at the under-17, under-18, and under-19 levels.
The young player still spends some of his free time in Ghana, where the football association of that nation stated earlier this month that they were eager to persuade Mainoo to play for them internationally.
ESPN has learned from sources that Southgate is eager to see Mainoo advance with England and feels he has a lot of promise.
If Mainoo continues his incredible form for United, Southgate may put him in his senior squad, which will be announced on March 14. However, it is more likely than not that he will bypass the U20s and instead join England’s U21 squad.
One of the main topics of discussion between Southgate and U21s manager Lee Carsley in the coming weeks will be Mainoo’s involvement.
Mainoo will only lose his eligibility for Ghana when he participates in a competitive senior international match, and this year’s schedule has made it more difficult.
However, sources indicate that England is certain that Mainoo wants to play for them and that they want to incorporate him into the system.
Prior to the European Championship in the summer, England will play four friendly matches, starting next month with home games against Belgium and Brazil at Wembley.
One option would be for Southgate to choose Mainoo for Euro 2024, but considering that he has only made 17 first-team appearances, that would be a big decision.
Additionally, Southgate may only designate a 23-man squad, down from the 26-man groups used at the previous World Cup and Euros, which were initially increased because to COVID-19 concerns.
This implies that Mainoo may not be allowed to play competitively until the autumn and that there will be less opportunity for experimentation.
Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips, and Conor Gallagher are among the midfield players whom Southgate currently prefers.Trent Alexander-Arnold was included in England’s previous squad for their matches against Malta and North Macedonia as a midfield player.
According to an ESPN source,Southgate is also thinking about bringing up goalie Jack Butland, who revived his career at Rangers after leaving Crystal Palace on a free transfer last summer.
Reports suggest that England manager Gareth Southgate is contemplating inviting Manchester United sensation Kobbie Mainoo for the upcoming international break.
British journalist Graeme Bailey has indicated that Southgate and his technical team have included the young talent in their plans and are aiming to call him up for the Three Lions’ matches against Brazil and Belgium in March.
Mainoo has been enjoying a breakthrough season at Manchester United, having featured in nine Premier League games since his debut against Everton in November 2023.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3XFiu6AJ5k
The youngster grabbed headlines with an extraordinary winning goal in Manchester United’s 4-3 victory over Wolves.
Subsequent reports have suggested that the Ghana Football Association is keen on persuading the Ghanaian-born player, who was raised in the UK, to commit his international future to Ghana and represent the Black Stars.
“The Ghana Football Association is interested in monitoring, attracting, and persuading all eligible talents for its various national teams,” Randy Abbey, a member of the executive council of the Ghana FA, told The Times.
Kobbie Mainoo has been through the ranks of England, playing for the England U19s and making six appearances.
England’s coach Gareth Southgate, has revealed a shift in his plans for the England squad in the European 2024 qualifiers against Malta on Friday and North Macedonia three days later.
This adjustment stems from the absence of several players due to injuries.
Despite having secured qualification for next year’s finals in Germany with a win against Italy last month, Southgate now faces the challenge of reshaping the squad given the unavailable players.
“You always have to adapt. We’d maybe have written two possible teams for the next two games but you never really know what’s going to come your way,” Southgate said in a press conference on Thursday.
“We have lost more players than is normal and there’s some long-term injuries amidst that, which is a big shame for the players themselves, but then there’s always opportunities for the players coming in.”
Southgate confronts England’s last games of the year without essential players, including Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and Chelsea’s Levi Colwill, who are sidelined with shoulder injuries.
The coach emphasised the managerial challenge of striking a balance and making tough decisions in light of these absences. This comes after he faced inquiries regarding the absence of Chelsea striker Raheem Sterling.
“As a player, you never agree with a manager’s decision to leave you out, but you just hope you do it in the most respectful way possible, with constructive points so they can go away and work on things,” said Southgate.
Southgate also spoke of how,despite England leading Group C with 16 points after six games, his priority is to prove they are a top team that wins games, despite facing constant criticism.
“The most important message revolves around our day-to-day standard on the training ground,” said Southgate. “We aspire to be a top team, and we’ve been consistent for a while, and that comes from everything you do and the things no one else sees.”
England manager Gareth Southgate revealed that he successfully persuadedKyle Walker, who is 33 years old, to reconsider retiring from international duty.
This convincing conversation took place after England’s World Cup quarterfinal loss to France last year and also after the heartbreaking defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
During Saturday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine in Wroclaw, Poland, the right-back marked his 77th appearance for the national team by scoring his debut England goal. Southgate emphasised that Walker plays a “vital” role within the squad.
“I’ve talked him out of retirement twice from international football, after the Euros and after the World Cup,” Southgate told British media. “I think he loves being here.
“If we’re talking about world-class players in their position on our team, then he’s probably one of them.
“I think he didn’t realise how much value we have for him and how important he is for us. He’s probably not going to thank me for sharing that.” Southgate added that Walker, who made his international debut aged 21 in 2011, had become a “mature leader” for England.
“Not only playing but also around the training, the way I hear him speak when he’s interviewed, his influence on the group, the younger players,” Southgate said.
“I think he’s enjoying the extra responsibility he’s had at his club and I know he’s ready to embrace that with us as well.”
England are six points clear in Group C and on course to qualify for next year’s Euros in Germany. They take on Scotland in a friendly in Glasgow on Tuesday.
Gareth Southgate has acknowledged that Raheem Sterling expressed his dissatisfaction after not being included in the England squad.
Despite being one of the national team’s most seasoned players with 82 caps, Sterling has not been part of the squad since the World Cup quarter-final exit to France in December.
An injury kept Sterling out of England’s March gathering, and ongoing hamstring concerns led to what his representatives described as a “mutual decision” to prioritize his physical recovery, especially after a challenging first season at Chelsea.
Despite a strong start to the season, Sterling did not receive the recall he had hoped for. Southgate omitted him from the squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and a friendly match in Scotland.
“We were really pleased with the group (in June),” the England manager said.
“To bring Raheem back in we have to leave someone else out and on the back of three games I didn’t think anybody in this group of attacking players warrants being left out.
“It’s really good to see him start the season so well. He looks in good condition, he looks hungry.
“He’s obviously an important player for us and has been an important player for us.
“But we have in those attacking areas just behind the nine a lot of competition for places.
“I think all of those players have started the season well and certainly the group that are with us has done really well for us in the in the recent games.”
Put to the England boss that Sterling has missed three squads in a row, he said: “He was not available for the last two and of course that’s given other people the opportunity to play well and to establish themselves in the group.
“It’s a difficult call and Raheem is not particularly happy about it, but I understand that because he’s an important player for us.
“I’m convinced he’s going to have an excellent season with Chelsea, there’s no doubt about that.”
Southgate made a point of calling Sterling about his decision as he was conscious that he has been “a really big player for us” and wanted to acknowledge how well he has been playing.
“Raheem is always really respectful with how he responds and deals (with things),” the England boss said.
“He will always say ‘look, I respect your decision’ but of course he wants to get back in the group. And I wouldn’t expect that to be any other way.”
A statement from the player’s camp reinforced that Southgate’s “decision has been respected”, adding that “Raheem will continue to focus on his domestic form”.
Sterling has been in impressive form, featuring in Chelsea’s starting lineup for the first three Premier League matches of the season. During Friday’s 3-0 victory against Luton, he contributed with two goals and an assist.
In contrast to Sterling’s omission, Gareth Southgate retained his trust in England vice-captain Jordan Henderson, despite Henderson’s move to the Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq generating controversy.
Southgate also included former Manchester United captain Harry Maguire and Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips in the squad, even though both players have not seen any action in club football this season.
Southgate highlighted that “I haven’t always said we just pick on form because clearly that hasn’t been the case in a number of positions”.
England’s absentee-hit central defence and lack of single pivot midfield options help explain the involvement of Maguire and Phillips, but they are not guaranteed to keep their places if club issues remain.
“I think with Harry, the injuries to (Raphael) Varane and (Luke) Shaw probably mean that there is unlikely to be any change there in terms of a change of clubs,” Southgate said ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.
“So, no, I can’t sit here and say it’s an ideal situation with either.
“With the centre-backs, we have got a chance for others to come in (due to absences) and there are others playing in the role.
“In midfield it’s more of a concern because of the specifics of the position.
“I know I’ve talked about the low numbers of English players playing and people say: ‘What are you moaning about? You’ve got a great squad to pick from’.
“But it’s the positional specifics. There is a lack of depth in certain areas – left-back is one and midfield pivot is definitely another.”
Southgate largely stuck with the tried and tested for September’s double-header, but there was a place for uncapped Chelsea defender Levi Colwill and, more surprisingly, Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah.
Following Bukayo Saka’s impressive performance, where he scored his first senior career hat-trick during England’s dominant 7-0 victory over North Macedonia in the Euro 2024 qualifying match, manager Gareth Southgate was questioned about the 21-year-old’s progression towards the pinnacle of soccer’s elite level.
“He’s there,” Southgate replied matter-of-factly.
“When he broke into the team at Arsenal what struck us was that in a team that were having a difficult time he was performing at a really high level,” Southgate said. “Then when the team were playing well he was still a key player and performing at a really high level.
“So, that says a lot about his mentality, his ability to deal with pressure. And that’s the environment that we’re in all the time. He’s exceptional to work with.”
At the end of a long season in which Arsenal finished runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League, Saka could have sat the game out with the injury, Southgate said.
“To see the joy on his face, he’s such a popular member of the team. And so humble, works incredibly hard.”
The 21-year-old Saka was joined up front by captain Harry Kane, who scored record-extending 57th and 58th goals for his country, and Marcus Rashford in a forward line that fans on social media were calling the best England have had in a while.
Is it a strike force Southgate would like to build around?
“I think for different games, different profiles of players are important, and of course, you can never be sure that we’re going to have everybody available,” he said.
“So that’s why nights like tonight, when the team were going well – we said to them at half time, ‘You have to keep enjoying a night like tonight, you have to keep driving and finish it well’, because it’s not often you have the team at that sort of a moment really.”
Despite what Southgate called “an outrageous” scoreline, Kane did not open the floodgates until the 27th minute.
“That wasn’t really how we were expecting the game to be because there’s no evidence that Macedonia would suffer like that,” Southgate said.
“There’s no evidence that the game, in the end, would be as straightforward as it was. Certainly in the opening 20 minutes, it didn’t work that way.
“So it’s a huge credit to our senior players who have set a brilliant tone all week.”
England do not resume qualifying matches until September 9 and Southgate is looking forward to the downtime after a unique season interrupted by the World Cup in Qatar.
“I’ve said all along, everybody has to collaborate on the calendar because there’s no point us just talking to the Premier League and sorting the FA Cup or the League Cup out, it’s broader than that,” he said.
“I don’t like to talk about it at these moments because otherwise there’s every excuse to not perform on a night like tonight.
“The players have shown psychologically we refreshed them, we gave the bulk of them two weeks off. That came with a bit of a risk, but they responded really well. And I think psychologically they’re refreshed coming into these games and viewed it as a sort of mini pre-season before they go and have another couple of weeks break.
Gareth Southgate, the England manager, acknowledged that there is a boundary that his players must not exceed, referring toJack Grealish’s extravagant celebrations after winning the treble.
However, Southgate refrained from openly criticizing the forward, even though his partying attracted significant media attention.
Grealish accompanied his Manchester City teammates for a night out in Ibiza after their 1-0 Champions League victory against Inter Milan, securing the treble. They returned on Monday in preparation for their trophy parade.
Southgate’s comments suggest that while he recognizes the need for certain limits, he chose not to publicly reprimand Grealish for his actions.
The 27-year-old, Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips, John Stones and Kyle Walker linked up with the England squad on Tuesday ahead of Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Malta.
He said: “There is a line but in our head we weren’t thinking of including the City players for this game.
“I have spoken with the players. We have talked about where the focus needs to be, where we need them to be and acknowledged what they have experienced and that’s for me to manage.
“A few of our players would be teetotal. What is different is that everyone posts everything. I wouldn’t have liked a few of my nights out to be posted publicly. My generation would have a lot more problems.
“We know, talking to Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier what that game takes out of you.
“It’s a huge occasion and we needed to give those guys the time to take everything in but, point number one, they all wanted to come in to be with the group, which is fantastic.
“I don’t think they would have felt anything unusual about how we have dealt with this and how we have embraced the players back in to the group.
“We have also got the dynamic that while they are chuffed to bits and we are proud of them, a few others are pretty p****d off that they have won it at their expense. You are always really conscious of that.”
England’s last trip to Malta — a World Cup qualifier in 2017 — ended with a 4-0 victory but only after three goals in the final five minutes from Kane, Ryan Bertrand and Danny Welbeck.
It saw fans turn on the team, who were drawing 0-0 at half time and Southgate remembers the atmosphere, with the squad abused on the coach driving to the stadium, during and after the game.
He said: “Myself and Steve Holland were talking about it as we landed because it wasn’t a pleasant journey to the stadium and it was less pleasant going home.
“I’m not sure everyone knew we had won 4-0 because they were in the bar at 1-0, some at 0-0.
“For us it was a good reference to how far the relationship with the fans has come. The performances of the team are going to ebb and flow, the connection with the fans feels completely different now.
“It doesn’t matter what we have done in the last few years, last few games, we have to go again tomorrow night and make sure that we give our fans something to be excited about.”
Meanwhile, Trippier believes the squad needs to embrace their final games of the season.
England, top of Group C, also host North Macedonia at Old Trafford on Monday aiming to solidify their lead following March’s wins over Ukraine and Italy.
It will cap a season which also saw the first winter World Cup in November and December with the Premier League having finished three weeks ago.
The Newcastle defender said: “It’s difficult. It has been a tough season for myself and obviously the lads in Europe as well.
“We know at the end of the day we are coming away with England and they are two massive games. We want to be going to Germany next year.
“We know the challenges but for me it is easy to flip the switch and get back into that mode again.
“It’s been a good week of training. Everyone is buzzing to be back together and hopefully we can get the result.
“You have to be professional in terms of not doing too much and overloading. It’s about ticking over and just getting yourself in the best possible shape to be with England.”
Gareth Southgate made headlines by giving Eberechi Eze his first England call-up and ending Lewis Dunk’s absence from international duty,but Raheem Sterling was noticeably absent from the squad.
After starting the Euro 2024 qualification with victories over Italy and Ukraine, the focus now shifts to the upcoming matches against Malta and North Macedonia in June, which are expected to be relatively straightforward.
Sterling’s absence stands out the most for these games, as he concludes a challenging first season since his transfer from Manchester City to Chelsea, leaving him feeling frustrated.
Raheem Sterling
The 28-year-old has not played for England since the World Cup quarter-final exit to France – when a burglary at home disrupted his preparations – as injury ruled him out of the March camp.
“I spoke with him a week or so ago – a general catch-up,” England boss Southgate said.
“He’s not happy physically with his condition, having been carrying a hamstring problem. He really wasn’t in consideration.
“So, we didn’t get to the point of whether he should be in or out. He doesn’t think he is operating at the level he needs.”
A representative for Sterling called it a “mutual decision” that allows the player to focus on “recuperating his body in preparation for the upcoming season”.
The 28-year-old is determined to play a key role for England next term and Southgate says he can get back into the fold ahead of next year’s finals, as can omitted Tottenham defender Eric Dier.
“As we’ve shown with Tyrone (Mings) coming back (this time) and other players like Trent (Alexander-Arnold) coming back in, the door is always open when players are playing well,” Southgate told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“Eric and Raheem both have physical issues really at the moment that they’re dealing with, so there’s part of that is behind that decision as well.
“But there’s another year to go before the Euros and it’s possible for everybody to get in that squad.”
Mings, Alexander-Arnold, Callum Wilson and Sam Johnstone returned to the England squad as Southgate has largely stuck with the tried and tested for the Group C games, withCrystal Palace attacking midfielder Eze the only uncapped player named in the group.
The 24-year-old finally get his shot with England after an Achilles injury cost him a place in the provisional Euro 2020 squad.
“We have liked him for a long time,” Southgate said.
“He was very unfortunate just before the Euros. We were going to call him into a prep camp to have a look at him and he got a bad injury.
“I remember talking toRoy Hodgson about him then and Roy telling me he’d picked up an injury in training that day.
“I think he has finished the season really strongly, he can play in a couple of positions across that attacking line.
“He’s a goal threat, he’s got nice ability and bursts of speed to go past people and to take people out of the game with dribbling skills.
“We’re looking forward to seeing him a bit closer and everybody I speak to talks brilliantly about him as a person as well.”
Dunk has played for England but the Brighton captain has not been selected since winning his first cap against the United States in November 2018.
“Brighton’s football this year has been exceptional and Lewis Dunk and Levi Cowell have been a big part of that,” Southgate said.
“He’s shown great composure with the ball, he’s asked to defend very often one against one situations and he thoroughly deserves his call.”
The squad also includesMarcus Rashford, who missed March’s fixtures and last featured for England in a qualifier in the run to the last Euros.
“He’s a super player who’s had a really good season, so he’s an important player for us,” Southgate told talkSPORT.
“We’ve not been blessed with having him to be able to put in the team too often but we’re hoping that’s different. And we’re looking forward to seeing him again.”
There is no place for Ben White, who has not featured for England since leaving Qatar after the World Cup group stage due to personal reasons.
“I spoke with Ben before the camp in March,” Southgate added.
“But at the moment, we’ve got (Kieran) Trippier and (Kyle) Walker in that area of the pitch.
“He’s had a very good season, as have the whole Arsenal team, but he’s not ahead of those guys at the moment.”
According to Kieran Trippier, Gareth Southgate’s players are “extremely happy” about his decision to stay as England’s manager.
After his team was eliminated by France in the World Cup quarterfinals, the former Middlesbrough manager thought about leaving the position he has held since 2016.
There had been concerns that Southgate might leave before his contract, which runs through Euro 2024, expired because of his presence in the semi-final at Russia 2018 and his team’s second-place position at Euro 2020.
His players have responded favorably to the subsequent announcement that he will remain, with right-back Trippier saying the 52-year-old has the support of the team he led to Qatar 2022.
“We are all absolutely delighted about it,” Trippier told the i newspaper. “From the moment he first took charge until now, we’ve taken great huge steps.
“Players want to play for England, they know what it means to put the shirt on. He’s a great man manager, and I think all the lads would say that.
“Speaking for myself, I’m delighted that he’s staying on, and I know that all the rest of the players are too.”
Thank you for your fantastic support. We’ll see you in March for the start of our #EURO2024 qualifying campaign! 👏 pic.twitter.com/YbFa0yOfOH
After a difficult time that saw England relegated in the Nations League prior to the World Cup, Southgate initially said he required time to think over his future before recommitting.
Trippier believes England are continuing to progress, pointing to the spirited performance against France as a sign of growth.
“I think we have moved forward, for sure,” the Newcastle United full-back added. “You see the freedom the players had to attack, and you just have to look at the France game. I thought we were brilliant.
“We have taken huge steps. It was another learning curve for us, but we move on now.”
England will begin a possibly thorny Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with games against reigning European champions Italy and Ukraine in March.
Gareth Southgate, the manager of England, is “conflicted” as he considers staying in the position after the team lost to France in the World Cup quarterfinals.
After Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Les Bleus, Southgate made it plain that he would take his time making a decision about his future. The Football Association has left that decision up to Southgate.
The England manager has been in charge since 2016 and is under contract until December 2024. He guided the team to the 2018 World Cup semifinals and the Euro 2020 final.
“I’ve found large parts of the last 18 months difficult,” Southgatesaid. “For everything that I’ve loved about the last few weeks, I still have… how things have been for 18 months.
“What’s been said and what’s been written. The night at Wolves. There’s lots of things in my head that’s really conflicted at the moment.
“What I want to make sure, if it’s the right thing to stay, is that I’ve definitely got the energy to do that. I don’t want to be four or five months down the line thinking: ‘I’ve made the wrong call’. It’s too important for everybody to get that wrong.”
Before departing from our Al Wakrah base, we sat down with Gareth Southgate to reflect on the #ThreeLions‘ @FIFAWorldCup adventure, last night’s game and your incredible support this winter. pic.twitter.com/meU9DKy2UF
Southgate has transformed England since their disappointing Euro 2016 last-16 exit to Iceland, becoming a genuine title contender with a new wave of exciting talent.
The ex-England defender had no timeframe on when he would make a decision on his future, stating he was eager to overcome the emotion of the defeat before making a call.
Gareth Southgate, the manager of England, is “conflicted” as he considers staying in the position after the team lost to France in the World Cup quarterfinals.
After Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Les Bleus, Southgate made it plain that he would take his time making a decision about his future. The Football Association has left that decision up to Southgate.
The England manager has been in charge since 2016 and is under contract until December 2024. He guided the team to the 2018 World Cup semifinals and the Euro 2020 final.
Southgate added that he was not sure when he was ever going to get over England’s latest World Cup exit, but spoke with a sense of pride about their performance.
“I don’t think I have got over the last one [Euro 2020] but this feels a little bit different because when we reflect on what we’ve done, I’m not sure what more we could have done or given,” he said.
“I think we’ve given a really good performance against a top team. It was a significant psychological step for those players.
“I have been involved in nights where we have played top teams and been on the back foot for the majority of the game and been dominated. We wanted to be bold in the tournament and I think we went toe-to-toe with them.
“We have said we want to be competitive all the way through with England and we are, I believe, in that top table … the last three tournaments, we have restored credibility.
“The rest of the world look at us as a good side, but we are here to win, and we haven’t won.”
On Saturday, when England and France square off in the World Cup quarterfinals, Kyle Walker won’t show Kylian Mbappe any extra favors.
The Three Lions easily defeated Senegal in the round of 16, but they now face their toughest test yet against the defending champions.
While Walker is fully aware of the threat that Paris Saint-Germain star Mbappe poses, he says that Gareth Southgate’s team must concentrate on Les Bleus as a whole rather than on any one player.
The Manchester City ace, 32, said: “He’s a great player in great form so it’s not going to be an easy task.
“But as a professional you want to play against the best players and he is one of the best in the world.
“Of course, I understand the focus and I understand what I need to do to stop him. It’s easier said than done but I don’t underestimate myself.
“I’ve come up against some of the best players in the world but I have to treat it just as another game. You have to give him respect but not too much.
“It will be a tough game but a team cannot just be about one person. I’m not going to roll out a red carpet for him and tell him to score. It’s a World Cup, it’s do or die.
Kyle Walker will have the unenviable task of keeping Kylian Mbappe quiet on Saturday
“When City have played Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, we’re not just thinking of Mbappe — and it’s the same on Saturday.
“Yes, he’s a tool in their armoury — and a very good one — but you can’t underestimate their other players.
“We know he’s a great player and that’s why he’s the focus of all questions. But let’s not forget Olivier Giroud, who has scored lots of goals, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann.
“For me, all the questions shouldn’t be about him [Mbappe]. I appreciate he’s a great footballer but there are others as well.”
A new generation
Jude Bellingham has been a standout performer for England in Qatar
The England team’s campaign in Qatar has provided players like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Phil Foden the chance to excel internationally.
The three have combined to help the Three Lions score eight of their 12 goals thus far in the competition.
Giving his opinion on the young talent shining in Southgate’s squad, Walker said: “It is great for the English game.
“Jude being one who has the courage to play for England that others didn’t have when they were younger. They have no fear and they go in and express themselves.
“We have to pay a big compliment to the manager. He has allowed the youngsters that chance but they want to be the best they can be as a footballer.
“I feel the standard of players has gone up another level in this tournament.
“As a team in Russia [in 2018], we were a little inexperienced in big matches. We got to the semi-final, we scored early and we didnt know how to handle that. We’re more equipped now.”
Underdogs no more
Kyle Walker is ready for the challenge of France in the quarter-finals
There would have been a time when England went into a game with France as huge underdogs — but that is no longer the case.
Walker added: “We’re playing the world champions but we are two good teams that will go toe to toe. You’ve seen what can happen in 90-plus minutes.
“There have been shocks and for us this is just another game. We take our hat off to them as world champions but each and every one of us will not be rolling that red carpet out for them to treat it as a theatre.
“We have great talent — let’s talk about the goals we’ve scored and the clean sheets we’ve kept.
“In my eyes, neither team is the underdogs or the favourites.
“This is a great opportunity to show we can beat a big team. To beat France would give us confidence.”
Harry Kane looks set to be available for England’s next World Cup encounter with the United States after Jordan Pickford confirmed the Three Lions captain had trained with the rest of the squad.
The Three Lions’ star striker was replaced by Callum Wilson during the 6-2 opening win against Iran on Monday and was subsequently sent for a scan on his ankle.
Kane’s importance to Gareth Southgate’sset-up has been illustrated over back-to-back tournaments, having won the Golden Boot at Russia 2018 and helped lead England to the Euro 2020 final last year.
Fears that he could miss Friday’s Group B encounter with the USA look to have been dispelled by Pickford, however, who confirmed the Tottenham forward had been going through drills with his team-mates.
“I think he’s good,” the goalkeeper stated. “[He’s] probably a bit sore, but he’s out on the grass with us today. That’s good, he’s our captain and he’s fine yeah.
“Everyone gave their all when he came off, Callum came on got the assist for Jack’s [Grealish] goal and played well. Everyone’s training well and working hard. Everyone’s here for a reason to play football.
“Harry is an unbelievable player. He’s a leader he’s the captain, and we all look up for him. But there’s also opportunities for other lads as well.
Kane failed to find the back of the net during his side’s rampant opening victory, but could yet exceed Wayne Rooney’s all-time England goalscorer record over the course of the tournament.
The Three Lions are top of Group B and will effectively qualify for the knockout rounds with a victory over the USA ahead of their final group stage game against Wales on November 29.
Gareth Southgate is worried and demanded “clarity” after expressing concerns England could fall foul to refereeing decisions after a pre-World Cup briefing.
FIFA referees committee chairman Pierluigi Collina used an example clip of Kalvin Phillips blocking an opponent at a free-kick to help create space for Harry Maguire to score in last year’s 5-0 win over Albania.
The video was used to brief referees, competing nations and the media, on how to spot foul play from set-piece situations and seemingly worked against England in Monday’s 6-2 thrashing of Iran.
Southgate admitted he fears England may fall on the wrong side of decisions after Collina’s briefing, citing concerns after a “definite penalty” on Maguire.
“What worries me is we were used in an example in the referees’ video,” the England manager said.
“What we were shown, the incident in the first half [with Maguire] would be a definite penalty.
“Maybe there’s a shirt pull [for the Iran penalty] – we’ve got to be better on that – but I’m a bit worried we were the example shown.
“Then to get a decision as happened in the first half, we need some clarification really as to how it’s going to be.”
Southgate recalled the Football Association being able to discuss penalty decisions with match officials after England’s 2-1 win over Tunisia at Russia 2018.
“It happened in Russia and we’ve got to have that dialogue with FIFA [again],” he added.
“We want clarity. Otherwise, we don’t know where we stand. Goals are going in and we don’t know whether they stand or not. The bit that worries me is we were the example shown.”
England face the United States in their next Group B game on Friday before a clash with Wales four days later.
Englandwere applauded for taking a knee at the start of their World Cup Group B opener against Iran at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.
Three Lions manager Gareth Southgate confirmed in his pre-match press conference a day earlier that England had decided to perform the gesture at the World Cup.
Kneeling before a game was initially adopted on a regular basis in the Premier League following the death of George Floyd in the United States back in 2020.
Despite it being a show of solidarity against discrimination, it was an initiative that was not universally applauded, with several Premier League clubs jeered for taking part.
It was scrapped as a regular feature ahead of this season, with the Premier League instead announcing the gesture would be reserved for special occasions.
Reports had suggested England players were discussing whether to kneel during Qatar 2022, and Southgate confirmed on Sunday that the squad came to an agreement.
England made their stance during the noisy countdown to kick-off, with the gesture widely applauded some the England fans in the stadium.
However, England captain Harry Kane did not wear the OneLove armband.
Kane and captains from six other nations were initially due to wear the armband at the tournament to promote “inclusion and send a message against discrimination of any kind”.
But the Football Association confirmed before Monday’s game that they had bowed to pressure from FIFA, who “made it very clear that it will impose sporting sanctions if our captains wear the armbands on the field of play”.
A few minutes before, Iran players refused to sing their national anthem, which was also widely jeered by their supporters.
Iran’s participation at the tournament comes amid social unrest in Iran following the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini in police custody two months ago.
As many as 15,000 people have been arrested in the country for protesting against the regime’s oppression of women, and Iran’s refusal to sing has been perceived as an act of solidarity.
In September, Iran covered up their national symbols before a friendly against Senegal in what was also seen as an act of defiance.
Gareth Southgate says Harry Maguire is one of England’s “best centre-backs” after the defender was named among the Three Lions’ Qatar 2022 World Cup squad.
The Manchester United captain will head to his third major tournament with the national team, following Russia 2018 and Euro 2020, despite struggling for regular minutes at club level.
One of a dozen players retained from the squad that reached the semi-finals four years ago, Maguire has been a regular for England under Southgate.
That experience in major knockout encounters has helped him keep his spot despite underwhelming for United, with inclusion indicating the strong support Southgate has for his player.
“He’s one of our best centre-backs,” he stated. “I think within the squad, we’ve got a lot of players that have been to tournaments, have performed at that level, and know what’s required.
“We’ve got other players who are playing well, who are in form right at this moment, and we’ve got to balance all of that when picking our team.”
19 – Eric Dier has made more interceptions in the Premier League than any other Tottenham Hotspur player (19) this season. Anticipation. #ThreeLionspic.twitter.com/2GB9Nbj4ID
Maguire’s selection was expected but has nevertheless raised eyebrows amid the promising form of younger understudies, such as Milan’s Fikayo Tomori and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
Southgate suggested that, despite limited opportunities for Maguire, his youthful rivals had not shown enough to dislodge his faith in Maguire and others, such as Everton loanee Conor Coady.
“We’ve picked our more experienced defenders,” he added. “In this moment in time, the younger ones have got some really good qualities.
“But we don’t think they’ve done quite enough to push the more experienced ones out. With the tournament we’re going into and the level of the matches, that had to be the pecking order.”
England and Scotland will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first international football match with a repeat fixture at Glasgow’s Hampden Park in 2023.
The two teams played out the inaugural game, officially considered the maiden encounter in the sport’s international history by FIFA, on November 30, 1872.
As part of the celebrations marking 150 years since that 0-0 draw at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow, they will face off in the same city next year on September 12.
“Any meeting with Scotland is always special,” England manager Gareth Southgate said.
“Ourselves and Scotland are the oldest of rivals, and passions are sure to be high at Hampden.
“But this milestone is much bigger than our two nations, as it is also an opportunity to celebrate 150 years of international football.”
The neighbouring nations met in the group stage of Euro 2020, with that match finishing goalless. Their last encounter at Hampden Park came in 2017, when Harry Kane struck in injury time in a 2-2 draw.
A visit to Old Trafford in June and a 150th Anniversary Heritage Match with Scotland in September 🗓
“This fixture is enshrined in history,” Scotland manager Steve Clarke added. “I will be proud to lead our team out at Hampden as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of our national game.
“This next chapter of the oldest rivalry in football will be a special occasion for our players and fans, especially after the recent experience at Wembley during Euro 2020.”
Alongside the announcement, the Football Association (FA) confirmed England will play their Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia at Manchester United’s Old Trafford on June 19.
While Scotland failed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, England are making their preparations for Qatar, with Southgate set to name his squad by November 10.
The Three Lions will take on Iran, the United States and Wales in the group stage.
The Prince of Wales paid a visit to St George’s Park today to mark the 10th anniversary of the home of England’s national teams.
Along with chatting to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, His Royal Highness observed training sessions involving the men’s senior deaf team and the men’s powerchair development squad before meeting girls and boys from community clubs.
Since opening in 2012, St George’s Park has made a huge contribution to the success enjoyed by sides at all levels, most recently highlighted by the Lionesses winning Euro 2022.
FA CEO Mark Bullingham said: “St George’s Park continues to deliver on the vision we set out 10 years ago to provide consistent world-class support for our England teams.
“Since St George’s Park opened, our teams have won 12 tournaments and we are confident that our best-in-class facilities, coaching and learning will support more success for future generations.
“Our investment supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Sport England and the National Lottery continues to drive success for the English game.”
The Staffordshire facility now hosts over 80 England team camps a year across men’s and women’s seniors, development and para squads.
They all benefit from 13 outdoor pitches, full-size indoor 3G pitch and indoor Futsal arenas, strength and conditioning gym and facilities such as cryotherapy, hydrotherapy and physiotherapy suites.
Alongside its role in delivering a pathway for England’s elite teams, St George’s Park is also home to the FA’s education arm, England Football Learning.
Did you know?
Before it became a centre of world-class football, the St George’s Park site had a rich history. It went from being used as a hunting ground where wolves and wild boars roamed free to entertaining the aristocracy.
The land was purchased in 2001 and plans for St George’s Park were first put in place. In 2008, the FA reignited the project after two-and-a-half years of planning and extensive research.
St George’s Park was officially opened by the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on October 9, 2012. The final build costs were £105million.
In 2015, the senior women’s team won bronze at the World Cup. An extra-time penalty goal ensured England beat Germany for the first time in 31 years.
History was made earlier this year as the Lionesses ended 56 years of hurt, becoming English football’s first senior trophy winners since 1966 by emerging victorious on home soil at Euro 2022.
James Maddison not going to the World Cup with England would be “a shame for the country”, said Brendan Rodgers after the Leicester City midfielder scored another two goals on Monday.
The 25-year-old has earned only a single England cap, in November 2019, and appears to face an uphill battle to gain favour with Southgate before Qatar 2022 kicks off next month.
Yet Maddison has started the Premier League season in outstanding form. After scoring two and assisting another in Leicester’s 4-0 win over fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, he has seven goal involvements in seven appearances.
Going back to the start of the previous campaign, Southgate‘s captain Harry Kane is the only English player with more Premier League goals (24) or goal involvements (34) than Maddison (17 goals, 10 assists).
“It’s such a shame for the country and for James himself,” manager Rodgers told Sky Sports. “You see his talent, and his performance level for the last 18 months I think everybody is clear on.
“I think it’s only Harry Kane who has created and scored more goals than him, so to not even be in the squad…
“Even if he’s not going to start, to have a player of that quality and not only in that, in international football, to have the personality to take the ball, be creative, take the ball and change the game, James is all of that. He’s an absolutely brilliant player.
“I really hope over these next few months he can continue the form he’s shown for 18 months and somehow get into the team, because if you’re wanting creativity, you’re wanting personality – he’s improved his defensive side of his game, and he can play in a couple of positions.
“For me, he’s an absolutely outstanding player, and he’s up there.
“I love Phil Foden, Mason Mount, those boys who play there – Jack Grealish is different, Jack plays from the side – but Madders can play in a number of positions to a high level, and he showed that tonight.”
Maddison, who said suggestions he would not be a good character within the group if not starting were “insulting”, added: “It’s been a weird position for me.
“We [Leicester] have been bottom of the league, and results have not been going our way, but I’ve almost been as confident as I’ve ever been in my career.
“I don’t remember over the last 12 months playing better than I have and feeling as well as I have.
“It’s obviously hard to answer this question [on his England hopes], because you want to say the right thing, you don’t want to say the wrong thing, but that’s an ambition of mine, a goal of mine.
“I’m a football man, I watch all the games, I watch international football, and an opportunity at that level would be something I desire. I almost know I’d have an impact.
Emile Heskey believes Gareth Southgate should be given the chance to turn England’s fortunes around after relegation from League A in the Nations League.
The Three Lions’ manager has come in for criticism after his team finished bottom of Group 3, failing to win any of their six outings against Italy, Hungary and Germany (D3 L3).
With the World Cup in Qatar kicking off in less than two months, the pressure is on Southgate to deliver, though he did guide England to the semi-finals in Russia in 2018 before reaching the final of the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament last year.
Heskey – who made 62 appearances for England – thinks Southgate and his players can turn it around and can take positives from their 3-3 draw with Germany at Wembley on Monday.
Speaking to Stats Perform, the former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker said: “I think the draw against Germany did redeem [England] in some cases.
“I thought the fight they showed was fantastic to get it back to 3-2 because they could easily have given up at 2-0 [down]. But they fought back to make it 3-2 and then 3-3, obviously.
“Football has always fascinated me [because] we put no pressure on them, and [then] they get to a semi-final and a final, then we suddenly heap a load of pressure on them and you can see what’s happening.”
Prior to the six-goal thriller with Germany, England had failed to score with any of their previous 62 non-penalty shots, a run of seven hours and 30 minutes without a non-penalty goal.
Southgate’s men are also winless in their last six games in all competitions, their longest run since April to June 1993 (also six). It is their longest ever winless run going into a major tournament.
“When you’re not doing well, they’re going to justify criticism, and you’ve got to accept that criticism. It’s how you bounce back from that,” Heskey added.
“None of these have turned into bad players overnight, and the manager isn’t a bad manager overnight. I think you’ve got to give him the opportunity to turn it around and turn the fortune of the players around as well.”
One of the concerns widely discussed has been whether Southgate knows his best team before they take on Iran, the United States and Wales in Group B at the World Cup, but Heskey pointed out selection headaches mean the manager has a number of credible options available to him.
“You could put it either way,” he said. “It could be alarming, or it could be a good thing that we don’t know the best 11 because players are coming in.
“You’ve even got Ivan Toney coming into the [last] squad… [Mason] Mount’s played a lot of games and then come back in and scored.
“So it’s always good to keep the manager on his toes. But you really should know who your starting 11 is coming up to a major tournament.”
Gareth Southgate says the negativity aimed his way “is not healthy” for England’s players as he urged supporters to get behind their side in Monday’s clash with Germany.
England are winless in five matches – their worst such run since June 2014 – ahead of taking on historic rivals Germany at a sold-out Wembley in their final Nations League tie.
The Three Lions were relegated from Group A3 after Friday’s 1-0 loss to Italy, which followed a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Hungary in their most recent home game.
Southgate was booed after both of those defeats, with fans also heard chanting “You don’t know what you’re doing” during the contest against Italy at San Siro.
But ahead of England’s first game at Wembley since March, in what is their last outing before the World Cup, Southgate hopes his players are backed by those inside the ground.
“We’ve got 90,000 people – the stadium is sold out – so people want to come and see this team play,” he said at Sunday’s pre-match press conference.
“That’s because the players have done an unbelievable job for six years.
“We were on the back of a difficult time in terms of the relationship with the fans at the start of that journey and slowly we’ve built with the finishes that we’ve already discussed.
“It is not healthy for the team to be having this noise around them. I fully understand that. But it is for me to take responsibility, it is for me to allow them to go and play.
“I want them to feel freedom. They know we always talk about that around the training ground, on the training pitch, and I would urge the supporters to get behind the team.
“How they deal with me at the end or whenever, on the phone-ins or wherever else is completely different.
“But this is their last chance to see the boys before they go to a World Cup and we are all in it together. We can only succeed if we’re all pushing in the same direction.
“What happens to me is irrelevant, frankly. It is about the team. The most important thing is the team and the success of the team.”
Across his six years in charge, Southgate has guided England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and Euro 2020 final, as well as reaching the Nations League Finals in 2019.
England have won just two of their seven matches this year, however, with both of those coming in friendlies, and have failed to score from open play in more than eight hours.
Indeed, the Three Lions are one of only two nations yet to score a single non-penalty goal in the 2022-23 Nations League alongside minnows San Marino.
Asked how he is coping with the recent criticism, Southgate said: “You’re not going to have six years as we’ve had without a spell where you are going to have some tough results.
“You’ve got to show resilience to come through those moments. I’m not the first coach to go through a difficult time in terms of results and criticism.
“This is part of the territory – for me, it’s a great challenge to lead the team through a moment like this.
“The results haven’t been at the level we want or require. So, no matter what job you have in football, that would be the case.
“Of course, with the national team, that noise is going to be louder and more widespread, I understand that.”
Englandmanager Gareth Southgate is adamant he is the right man to lead the team into the World Cup despite a woeful run of form.
Defeat to Italy on Friday condemned the Three Lions to relegation in the Nations League, extending the winless streak to five matches in the process.
Southgate was jeered by England’s travelling supporters at San Siro but, despite being under the most pressure he has been in his six-year stint in charge, believes he remains the best choice to take the team to Qatar.
“Without a doubt. We’re playing and have been playing some top-level sides and we will be better for that,” he said.
“And the younger players, in particular, that have been in these games will have learned a lot from them.
“In the past we’ve had runs of friendlies or whatever the matches are and then we’ve gone into tournaments and that’s the first time we’ve hit high-level opposition and it’s hit us in the face quite often.
“Now we know the level, now we know what we’ve got to improve and we’ll be better placed for that by having had the quality of matches that we’ve had.”
5 – England have gone five matches without a win for the first time since 2014, and have gone five competitive matches without winning for the first time since 1992. Slump. pic.twitter.com/vKmGzZAmmi
“I believe we are going to be judged on how we perform out in Qatar. We’re just in one of those moments where it’s not quite going our way. We’re confident we can turn that around,” he stated.
“We have one more game on Monday to try to get some good feelings back. Ultimately, once we get to the World Cup, we will be ready for that first game and be fully focused on that.
“I don’t think our confidence has been dented, but you want to win games. We are all experienced enough, with our clubs especially we have been through those moments when things haven’t been going so well. It’s about bouncing back.”
Englandmanager Gareth Southgate insisted there were “a lot of positives” in the Three Lions’ 1-0 defeat to Italy on Friday.
Giacomo Raspadori struck the only goal of the game to condemn England to equal their worst winless streak since 2014, and also resulted in relegation to League B of the Nations League.
It marked another game without a goal for England, who are now 495 minutes without scoring from open play, and have just 90 minutes of football against Germany on Monday before the World Cup.
However, despite receiving boos from the travelling supporters at San Siro, Southgate remains positive and suggested England were the better team.
“It’s difficult for me to be too critical of the performance. We had more possession, more shots, more shots on target,” he said.
“For large parts of the game we played very well. We didn’t deal with the decisive moment defensively. We had moments where we had the chance to be decisive in their final third, [but] our quality wasn’t quite right.
“It’s a spell where ultimately results are going to be the thing that everyone reacts to, but I thought there were a lot of positives for us as a team tonight.
“Lots of good individual performances. I personally thought the performance is a step in the right direction. I completely understand because of the result that is not going to be the reaction.
“It’s really difficult to pinpoint why we are not scoring. I think we are getting into the right areas. We had the moments where we would have the pass but we just didn’t deliver that final piece of quality tonight.
“I understand the reaction at the end because that’s the results we have had in this competition. It’s an understandable emotional reaction.”
Gareth Southgate is ready to stake his reputation on the continued selection of Harry Maguire, insisting the out-of-favour Manchester United defender remains one of England’s most important players.
Maguire has been dropped to the bench for United’s run of four consecutive Premier League victories, having started their back-to-back defeats to open the campaign last month.
The defender has only started one of United’s past five games in all competitions – a 1-0 Europa League loss to Real Sociedad – leading to criticism of Southgate’s decision to call him up for England’s remaining Nations League fixtures.
But speaking ahead of England’s meeting with Italy at San Siro, which is followed by the visit of Germany on Monday, Southgate insisted Maguire remains central to his plans.
“Whatever reputation I have I’m putting it on there,” Southgate said. “I think you always have to back your judgement, and we feel he is an important player.
“Clearly, it’s not an ideal situation. You want your best players playing regularly so that they’re physically in a good place and mentally in a good place.
“But he is an important player for us. I think it’s important to back our best players.
“I haven’t felt the need to speak to him any differently to the rest of the players. Look, he understands that he’s at a big club, big transfer fee and captain of the club so I think that’s why the spotlight has been on him more.
“But he’s focused on training well every day and getting himself back in the [United] team.”
While Southgate acknowledges a lack of alternatives contributed to his decision to stand by Maguire, he also highlighted the ball-playing ability of the defender and his partner John Stones.
“If we thought there were experienced players ready to step in and play at a level above, there would be a different consideration and in some positions there would be a different level of competition in that way,” Southgate said. “He is our most dominant aerial centre-back.
“Him and John are incredible with the ball really – the amount of pressure they have taken for the team in tournaments we have played because we don’t always have that midfield pivot player who can progress the game.
“It means there is a huge amount of pressure on our centre-backs to use the ball well and those two are as good as any in world football at doing that.”
England have only lost two of their past 26 matches, both against Hungary in June’s Nations League fixtures (W18 D6).
However, the Three Lions are also winless in their past four games (D2 L2), their longest such run since June 2014 (five), and a defeat to Italy in Milan would condemn Southgate’s side to relegation from the Nations League’s top tier.
&w=707&quality=100)
&w=707&quality=100)
&w=707&quality=100)