Gareth Southgate: England must improve for World Cup - but fans must get behind team

GARETH SOUTHGATE admits England will have a point to prove in Russia after limping into the World Cup.

Posted Friday, October 06, 2017 by Dailystar.co.uk

Gareth Southgate: England must improve for World Cup - but fans must get behind team
Gareth Southgate wants England fans to get behind the team

Harry Kane’s injury-time winner helped the Three Lions qualify for their sixth finals in a row despite a poor performance in a quiet Wembley.

But Southgate admitted there were plenty of anxious moments as England struggled in front of a crowd who threw paper aeroplanes to relieve the boredom.

He said: “We would have loved to have played more fluidly and scored more goals. That was frustrating.

"We’re having to find a way of winning by being more savvy because we’re not flowing with the ball, but we have got goalscorers.

"We stayed resilient at the end when there was a bit of anxiety. Was it the performance and the night we wanted? No absolutely not.

"But this is a young team and they’re going to improve. It is a work in progress. We know we need to evolve the team.

"As a young team with what they are having to deal with in terms of expectation, criticism of their performances, it’s tough for them. They’re young players we have to try and get behind.

"They’re giving everything they’ve got. They haven’t got Champions League or league championship winning medals in the group. They’re a work in progress.

"But they are giving everything for the shirt and they will improve in the next few years. They’re suffering the consequences of 25 years, 30 years, 40 years whatever, but that isn’t their fault.

"We have to give them the backing to go and believe.”

Southgate, whose side kept seven clean sheets in nine games in qualifying, will not be releasing any players for England’s final qualifier against Lithuania on Sunday.

He added: “Are we going to become Spain in the next eight months? No, we’re not. But respectfully they have a team full of players who have won titles.

"But they’ve got a squad of players who have won league titles and Champions League medals

Gareth Southgate: England must improve for World Cup - but fans must get behind team
Harry Kane scored the winner in England's 1-0 victory over Slovenia

"Until you win things and can prove yourself on that stage, you can’t consider yourself in that company. But our lads have a chance to play in that company again now.

"We know we have to be better but we’re going to a World Cup and that’s fantastic. I think this team has potential but we have a hell of a lot of work to do.”

Kane said: “We have qualified, and that’s all that matters. We had to be patient and in the last ten minutes they were getting tired. We’re all delighted.”

England No.1 Joe Hart, who made a big late save, said: “We wore them down. It was difficult for the crowd but we appreciate them coming. We’re really happy.”

Slovenia coach Srecko Katanec said: “Congratulations to England; they didn’t deserve to win, but I send them good wishes for the World Cup.”