GARETH SOUTHGATE saw England secure top seeding for Euro 2020 — and claimed they are in a better position than before the last World Cup.
Harry Kane completed his record of scoring in every qualifier while Harry Winks, Marcus Rashford and Mason Mount also netted.
Southgate has deployed young teams in both games this weekCredit: EPA
England will now avoid a nightmare group when the draw for next summer’s tournament is made on November 30.
Boss Southgate said: “We’re definitely further ahead than we were heading into Russia but we made massive strides in this period when we went into Russia.
“We’re going to have to improve in the way we did over that spell as well.
“The team have belief — you can see the confidence — but to win the European Championship is, at the moment, no easier than the World Cup.
“The final four were all European and you’ve got to add Spain, Germany, Portugal and all the others into that, so it’s a really high-level tournament.”
England, who welcomed Raheem Sterling back into the side after his bust-up with Joe Gomez, were unconvincing for long spells before they scored three goals at the end.
Southgate said: “The reality is we don’t know how important it is to be seeded. But if we’d finished second and got a stinker of a draw, then we’d be getting pelters.
“So it is better to win the group and control as much of our destiny as we can — and we wanted to keep winning matches.
“The good thing is that whoever comes to play us knows they’re in for a tough game.”
He added: “It was a difficult game. First and foremost, it was an amazing reception from everybody in Kosovo.
“It was obviously a special night for them and it was a privilege to be part of it.”
Kane’s effort means he scored 12 goals in the eight qualifying matches.
Gareth Southgate speaks about England performance after beating Kosovo 0-4 in Euro 2020 qualifier
The Spurs striker said: “They were up for it and we had already won the group so the mentality was not easy to go again.
“But we got it right, we managed it well, we went through spells where they had pressure but we were clinical — and 4-0 is a great result.”
Winks, who bagged his first England goal, said: “It’s a dream come true to score for my country. It was a great moment for me.”
Kosovo fans wave St George flags during God Save the Queen in show of support for England
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
