SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 19 hrs 10 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
NN
- | -
Jun 6, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
EN

3-1

de Ligt (73'), Walker (97' og.), Promes (114')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Rashford (32' pen.)

Southgate vows to keep faith with defensive game plan despite mistakes

:Headline: Southgate vows to keep faith with defensive game plan despite mistakes: ID:361431: from db_amp
England will play Switzerland on Sunday in the Nations League third/fourth-place play-off.

Gareth Southgate says playing out from the back will remain England's "bedrock" despite a dawdling defensive display costing them dearly against Holland.

For the second summer in succession, the Three Lions' progress at a major finals was halted in extra-time of a semi-final in which they took the lead.

Last year, Croatia recovered to win a World Cup semi-final in Moscow, while on Thursday England's Nations League hopes ended in the last four after a 3-1 loss to the Dutch.

It was a frustrating defeat as England made numerous defensive errors, with Ronald Koeman's men eventually taking advantage when Stones' inexplicable dallying led to Kyle Walker's own goal.

Quincy Promes wrapped up the win after Ross Barkley overplayed at the back, but Southgate vowed to encourage his players to keep playing with courage and confidence in the defensive third.

"It's difficult to know why individual errors like that could happen and can spread, not just from one or two players," the England boss said.

Southgate, left, consoles John Stones as it was his mistake that played a key role in England's defeat to Holland. (Mike Egerton/PA)

"I can only say that to play the way we want to play takes courage and when it doesn't work out then it's very difficult for the players.

"It's easy to turn around and kill them but we have some defenders who are prepared to take the ball in areas where many defenders in the world aren't.

"It's been the bedrock of how we've progressed, and we have to continue it but of course, we can't make the mistakes we did."

Former defender Southgate was particularly protective of Stones after his glaring error in Guimaraes, a mistake potentially born from the Manchester
City centre-back's lack of game time towards the end of the campaign.

"He knows that I am here to support him," the Three Lions boss said.

"I know he is going to get criticism, and he's had a difficult end to the season in that he was not playing regularly at his club.

"We still think he has been our best centre back, has huge qualities and huge potential to be a top player.

"But he has had so little football at the end of the season that the sharpness and fatigue as the game wore on were definitely factors in what has happened tonight.

"Joe (Gomez), who was with us (only from) two days ago, hasn't played either, and Michael Keane hasn't played in this sort of a game.

Ross Barkley was another player who needed to hear consoling words from Southgate . (Mike Egereton/PA)

"So I think Stones and (Harry) Maguire are our best two, and I have to be there to support in their difficult moments."

The defeat was made all the more crushing by Jesse Lingard's potential winner being ruled out by the video assistant referee, and the fact England now have to line up in a third-place play-off against Switzerland on Sunday.

"We have to (give everything)," said Southgate, who confirmed goalscorer Marcus Rashford was taken off with a bruised foot.

"We have thousands of fans here, and we owe them that we give absolutely everything.

"The mentality of the group is that we do that right the way through, and we have to do that for Sunday. It is no use complaining about it.

"We have to see who can go, and there are a couple of injuries, certainly a few with cramp, and we have to try to freshen it. That's our best chance of getting a result, to freshen it as much as possible."

amp_article__361431 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-06-11 21:31:17:
html db last update - 2021-02-16 23:09:01 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Gareth Southgate

Click here for more stories about England

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
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.



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