Gareth Southgate says England are able to combat for European Championship glory having progressed from what he believes was the hardest qualifying group with two matches to spare.
After bouncing again from December’s World Cup quarter-final exit to France by profitable in Naples in March, three additional wins and a draw away to Ukraine put the Euro 2020 runners-up inside touching distance of progress.
Unbeaten England solely wanted some extent in opposition to Italy to wrap up qualification for subsequent yr’s finals in Germany however went on to safe all three due to a formidable 3-1 comeback victory at a sold-out Wembley.
#EURO2024 qualification: secured
The #ThreeLions are heading to Germany subsequent summer season! pic.twitter.com/cduT7U0K8Z
— England (@England) October 17, 2023
“Really pleased to win the game tonight,” supervisor Southgate stated after sealing their spot at Euro 2024. “That’s the very first thing.
“We know that the video games in opposition to the highest, high nations are those that we need to make a step ahead with.
“We nonetheless must win the video games subsequent month as a result of it can have an effect on seeding.
“Nice to get it done early. I think it’s probably the toughest qualifying group, with Ukraine, Italy and the results that North Macedonia have had, not only in this qualification but also in previous qualifications.”
The strain is off as England welcome Malta subsequent month, earlier than rounding off 2023 away to North Macedonia buoyed by a formidable victory in opposition to Italy.
Former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca had put the Azzurri forward on Tuesday as these nations met at Wembley for the primary time for the reason that Euro 2020 closing.
But Harry Kane levelled from the spot and Marcus Rashford completed off a advantageous second-half workforce transfer, earlier than the skipper added his second on an evening that underlined their place among the many Euro 2024 favourites.
“I think we have to accept that,” Southgate stated. “I believe strain comes when expectation is totally different to actuality and the fact is we’re going to be one of many groups able to profitable.
“There are others. You know, it’s a really sturdy (line-up). You’ve solely acquired to look by means of the highest 10 European nations and on any given evening one can beat one other.
“We’re seeing in a Rugby World Cup now that groups that had been ranked one and two on the earth in these moments haven’t been capable of get there. That’s tournaments.
“But we’re snug with that. I’ve talked about that from after we performed at Naples and we delivered that evening.
“I believe we’ve continued to do this by means of this calendar yr. I believe our performances have been good.
“I believe the gamers that performed in opposition to Australia did an excellent job for us.
“If we didn’t have the depth that we’ve got and the mentality to come through what was a really tough night for them, we wouldn’t have been able to have the freshness that we had tonight to give ourselves the best chance of winning the game.”
One of the keys to success subsequent summer season will undoubtedly be the brilliance of midfielder Jude Bellingham.
The Real Madrid star is arguably one of the best participant on the planet proper now and earned the primary half penalty scored by Kane, earlier than profitable the ball and taking part in in Rashford.
“With Jude, his mentality is incredible for his age,” Southgate stated.
“To have such an impact at such a young age, to show such maturity but also humility. We’re very lucky to have him.”
As for Italy, Tuesday’s defeat underneath the arch leaves them in third in Group C and three factors behind second-placed Ukraine.
But Luciano Spalletti’s males have a sport in hand on Sergey Rebrov’s outfit, who they face within the closing spherical of fixtures.
“We have to win our next game so we can then travel away to Ukraine to compete,” the Italy boss stated, looking forward to November’s dwelling conflict with North Macedonia.
“I noticed a workforce attempting to do what I requested of them and I noticed some good issues. We made just a few errors as properly.
“With the things we did well, we weren’t able to score but as soon as we made a mistake, we conceded.”
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