England ready to handle expectations at Euro 2024, says Southgate
The HinduEngland manager Gareth Southgate said he was confident his side could handle the expectations that come with being one of the favourites to win Euro 2024 after it was given a kind draw on Saturday for the final. They are used to playing in big matches together and individually, so we are excited and all looking forward to the tournament.” Under Southgate, England reached the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and lost the final of Euro 2020 on penalties to Italy, before its 2-1 defeat by France in the last eight in Qatar a year ago. “He is a very special player, so again he has won so many games for us, not just with his goals which is the obvious factor, but with his link play, his passing ability, the way he leads the line, so we are very fortunate to have him.” England will begin their Euro bid against Serbia, ranked 34th in the world, in the western city of Gelsenkirchen, home to Schalke 04, on June 16. “And Slovenia takes me back to one of my first games as manager really, where but for Joe Hart making one of the best saves I have ever seen, I probably wouldn’t be standing here,” he added in reference to a 0-0 draw in Ljubljana in a World Cup qualifier in October 2016.