SM
Spurs vs. Man City: 3 hrs 50 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

England boss Gareth Southgate guarding against complacency ahead of Poland clash

:Headline: England boss Gareth Southgate guarding against complacency ahead of Poland clash:
The Three Lions have claimed consecutive 4-0 wins during this international break.
Sports Mole

Gareth Southgate has warned England not to be complacent ahead of their World Cup qualifier in Poland.

The Three Lions are top of Group I after winning all five of their matches so far, but face their sternest test yet in Warsaw on Wednesday.

Back-to-back 4-0 wins over Hungary and Andorra have only added to the feel-good factor of the Euro 2020 finalists, but Southgate is cautious prior to facing second-placed Poland.

“We have a squad of players, any of whom are more than comfortable to play and are playing well. But also those moments are dangerous because, if we get any sense of complacency, we are going into a game that will be a challenge.”
- Gareth Southgate

"As a team, we have to recognise we are in a good moment and the team is playing well," the boss told a pre-match press conference.

"We have a squad of players, any of whom are more than comfortable to play and are playing well.

"But also those moments are dangerous because, if we get any sense of complacency, we are going into a game that will be a challenge.

"It is a high level of motivation but also guarding against a feeling we are better than we are. We are getting a good set of results because we are working hard for each other."

Southgate made 11 changes for Sunday's 4-0 win over Andorra, but insisted it will not be a straightforward decision to revert back to the side which won impressively in Hungary last week.

"You could argue over what is our strongest team but the team that played in Hungary, we were obviously able to rest those guys after the game," he added.

"There is still huge competition for places in this group and it is not so straightforward to say we won that game and this team will go again and give the same level of performance.

"The challenge of the game in Poland will be different. The problems you get on the night can be different so we can't drift on the night."

Raheem Sterling was among the England players targeted with racist abuse in Budapest (Attila Trenka/PA)

England players were subjected to racism during their last away qualifier in Budapest on Thursday.

While Southgate would not be drawn on the prospects of facing a similar scenario in Warsaw, he knows keeping possession is key to quietening the home crowd.

The 51-year-old said: "We have to approach the game as we did the other night. We know keeping possession of the ball can be a big factor in managing those situations.

"But the flow of the game will be different and we are playing a level of opponent who I think is in a better moment.

"They have won their last two games and have better footballers in the team who will keep the ball a little bit better than Hungary were able to against us."

When England beat Poland 2-1 at Wembley in March, the visitors were without record goalscorer Robert Lewandowski.

He is back to lead the line on Wednesday and Three Lions goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is excited about the challenge of facing the Bayern Munich striker.

"I have just worked hard all week," the Everton player said.

"I have done my stuff with the other keepers and will just be 100 per cent on the training pitch leading up to match-day.

"We know they are a top side and he is a top striker, so we will focus on certain areas and be ready for anything."

body check tags ::

amp_article__462628 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-09-07 13:01:52:
html db last update - 2021-09-07 12:57:52 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Gareth Southgate

Click here for more stories about England

Share this article now:
EM
Read Next:
England can't just focus on Lewandowski in key World Cup qualifier - Southgate
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Gareth Southgate Robert Lewandowski Jordan Pickford Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
England can't just focus on Lewandowski in key World Cup qualifier - Southgate
Raphael Varane announces Man United exit
Man United 'cancel end-of-season awards dinner amid Ten Hag uncertainty'
Euro 2024 prize money: How much will each nation earn?

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal37275589286186
2Manchester CityMan City36267391335885
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs361961171591263
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761379572257
7Chelsea361691173611257
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd36166145256-454
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton361212125458-448
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Preview: Spurs vs. Man City - prediction, team news, lineups

1

PS

Chelsea handed double fitness boost ahead of Brighton game

2

CH

Euro 2024 prize money: How much will each nation earn?

NEW

3

E2

England kit for Euro 2024: Everything you need to know

NEW

4

EK

Summer transfer window 2024: When does it open and close? What deals could be done?

5

ST

When will England's Euro 2024 squad be announced?

NEW

6

WW

Euro 2024 schedule: Every fixture and kickoff time plus possible roads to final

7

E2

Newcastle 'make decision on Gordon future amid Liverpool links'

8

N'

Two key Newcastle players emerge as doubts for Man Utd trip

9

TK

This weekend's permutations: Who can be crowned champions, win promotion or suffer relegation?

10

TW


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .