England ready for Euro 2024 challenge – Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate and England learned their Euro 2024 group on Saturday (Adam Davy/PA)
Gareth Southgate insists England will head into Euro 2024 ready to handle the expectation that comes with being ranked one of the tournament favourites.
The England boss and his players were pitted against Denmark, Serbia and Slovenia in Group C for next summer’s finals in Germany in Saturday night’s draw in Hamburg.
Southgate has overseen a transformation of England’s fortunes since he took over in 2016, steering them to a first World Cup semi-final since 1990 at the 2018 tournament in Russia and a first-ever Euro final appearance in 2021.
Jude Bellingham, left, and Harry Kane are two of England’s main hopes (Martin Rickett/PA)
There were further signs of progress in December’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals and the side are firm favourites to take the final step and claim silverware, thanks in no small part to Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham and Bayern Munich sharpshooter Harry Kane.
“They are used to playing in big matches and have produced regularly,” Southgate said.
“They are used to playing in big matches together and individually, so we are excited and all looking forward to the summer.
“We feel the squad has been building for a period of time and England are going to be competitive for the foreseeable future as you look at the young players coming through. When we started at St George’s Park it is what we wanted to happen.
“If you are continually in those latter stages, most teams that win go close and then get there.”
Gareth Southgate, left, with Serbia head coach Dragan Stojkovic and Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand, right, at Saturday’s draw (Adam Davy/PA)
Denmark were England’s opponents in a tense semi-final at Euro
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