WE CAN MAKE IT A HAPPY XMAS

Southgate out to bring World Cup joy to nation

GARETH SOUTHGATE has said his team can be a source of Christmas joy for the nation as he prepared England for their last-16 World Cup clash with Senegal in Doha tonight.

The England manager wants his players to take the country on another ‘incredible journey’, as happened with mass summer gatherings during the World Cup in 2018 and the sense of release people felt at Euro 2020, coming in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

With a winter of discontent fast approaching, comprising strikes, inflation, worries about the war in

Ukraine and rising energy costs, Southgate said a World Cup run could lift the nation in the run-up to Christmas.

‘Part of the reason for doing the job is to bring happiness to others, frankly,’ said Southgate. ‘Of course, we’ve got our own pride and want to achieve professionally. But we have taken the country on two incredible journeys and you can feel there’s the potential for another one and we want that to happen.

‘We recognise the situation at home for everybody and want to bring smiles to people’s faces as they get towards the end of this weekend.’

Southgate faces a huge selection dilemma, with questions raised over

Raheem Sterling’s place in the starting XI following the win over Wales, with Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford expected to start with England unchanged.

Sterling was rested for Monday night’s victory, but Rashford’s brace and Foden’s goal leave them in a strong position. Leaving Sterling out would be a huge call, but dropping Rashford or Foden would also be harsh.

Despite all that, Southgate appeared relaxed as he prepared for what may prove to be a career-defining game.

He said: ‘I think 2018 was such a step into the unknown and we really weren’t sure how far the team could go. There was no evidence of the team being able to handle a knockout game. We were conscious of how much pressure we applied to them and what was a realistic internal goal.

‘Now, of course, they have got more experience of knockouts, so when we qualified we enjoyed the result but there was less of a celebration on the pitch.

‘The mindset is to be here for longer. The intent is different and has changed. What we feel equates to success has changed.’

England were booed off at the Al Bayt Stadium, where they play tonight, after the 0-0 draw with the USA. Yet they finished the group stage with the best record in the tournament.

‘You have to stay calm in those moments — to get through the group is a three-game process and let’s see where we are at the end of it,’ said Southgate.

‘There will always be emotional reaction at tournaments, every country experiences that. We take clues from what’s going on with other countries as well. We need balance and comparison to be able to learn.’