GARETH SOUTHGATE goes into tomorrow’s Euro 2020 opener knowing his job is 100 per cent safe — until after the World Cup.
The England boss, fine-tuning his preparations for the Croatia crunch, has the full backing of the FA.
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And even if the Three Lions have a disastrous tournament, he will remain in charge for Qatar 2022.
FA chiefs are fully committed to Southgate, who has impressed with his work on and off the pitch since taking over in 2016.
Southgate, whose contract runs until the end of the 2022 World Cup, has struggled with injuries and player availability in the build-up to the Wembley opener.
But the Three Lions chief last night issued a rallying cry to his players as he insisted they can handle the big-game pressure.
Southgate, 50, said: “We have to show that. Some of our youngest players have got experience of big games and tournaments are about hitting form at the right time.
“We have to bring everything over the next four weeks.”
England are hoping to go one step further after reaching the World Cup semi-finals under Southgate three years ago.
But the manager warned England cannot underestimate Croatia having lost to them in the last four in Russia.
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Talking to ITV, he said: “It puts an emphasis on us keeping the ball well.
“Historically, some of those opening matches England have flown out of the blocks, we haven’t kept the ball as well and we have suffered later in stages of games.
“I think people are dismissing Croatia a little bit quickly. They’ve got big-match experience and incredible spirit.
“We are going to have some young players on the pitch, there is no doubt about that.
“So how do we balance that with players that have had big-match experience and are good talkers?
“We must get the balance right.”
Southgate is moving towards a four-man defence. Raheem Sterling looks certain to start in attack, with Jack Grealish likely to miss out.
Sterling and midfielder Jordan Henderson got a pre-match boost with last night’s news they are to receive MBEs in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Sterling, 26, will receive his award for services to racial equality in sport.
Henderson, 30, gets his gong for services to football and charity, particularly during the pandemic.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
