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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 successful 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 towards Italy to wrap up qualification for subsequent yr’s finals in Germany however went on to safe all three due to a powerful 3-1 comeback victory at a sold-out Wembley.
“Actually happy to win the sport tonight,” supervisor Southgate mentioned after sealing their spot at Euro 2024. “That’s the very first thing.
“We all know that the video games towards the highest, prime 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 will probably have an effect on seeding.
“Good to get it carried out early. I feel it’s most likely the hardest qualifying group, with Ukraine, Italy and the outcomes that North Macedonia have had, not solely on this qualification but in addition in earlier {qualifications}.”
The strain is off as England welcome Malta subsequent month, earlier than rounding off 2023 away to North Macedonia buoyed by a powerful victory towards 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 remaining.
However Harry Kane levelled from the spot and Marcus Rashford completed off a wonderful second-half staff transfer, earlier than the skipper added his second on an evening that underlined their place among the many Euro 2024 favourites.
“I feel we now have to simply accept that,” Southgate mentioned. “I feel strain comes when expectation is totally different to actuality and the truth is we’re going to be one of many groups able to successful.
“There are others. You recognize, it’s a really robust (line-up). You’ve solely received to look by means of the highest 10 European nations and on any given night time one can beat one other.
“We’re seeing in a Rugby World Cup now that groups that have been ranked one and two on this planet in these moments haven’t been capable of get there. That’s tournaments.
“However we’re comfy with that. I’ve talked about that from once we performed at Naples and we delivered that night time.
“I feel we’ve continued to try this by means of this calendar yr. I feel our performances have been good.
“I feel the gamers that performed towards Australia did an excellent job for us.
“If we didn’t have the depth that we’ve received and the mentality to return by means of what was a very robust night time for them, we wouldn’t have been capable of have the freshness that we had tonight to present ourselves the perfect probability of successful the sport.”
One of many keys to success subsequent summer season will undoubtedly be the brilliance of midfielder Jude Bellingham.
The Actual Madrid star is arguably the perfect participant on the planet proper now and earned the primary half penalty scored by Kane, earlier than successful the ball and enjoying in Rashford.
“With Jude, his mentality is unimaginable for his age,” Southgate mentioned.
“To have such an affect at such a younger age, to point out such maturity but in addition humility. We’re very fortunate 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.
However Luciano Spalletti’s males have a sport in hand on Sergey Rebrov’s outfit, who they face within the remaining spherical of fixtures.
“We now have to win our subsequent sport so we are able to then journey away to Ukraine to compete,” the Italy boss mentioned, waiting for November’s house conflict with North Macedonia.
“I noticed a staff making an attempt to do what I requested of them and I noticed some good issues. We made a couple of errors as nicely.
“With the issues we did nicely, we weren’t capable of rating however as quickly as we made a mistake, we conceded.”
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