LONDON- Gareth Southgate asserts that he is determined to make England the top-ranked team in the world, emphasizing that there is no room for” sloppiness” as they attempt to cap off their successful Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
England is almost certain to be among the top seeds in the draw for the German finals next month as they face North Macedonia on Monday in Skopje.
However, they were let down by Friday’s 2–0 victory over Malta at Wembley, and they intend to do better when they face downcast North Macedonia, which they humiliated at Old Trafford in June.
Before the Group C finale, the England boss declared to the British media,” Qualification’s done.”
We may currently be ranked third in the world ( England is fourth according to the most recent FIFA rankings ), but we are two places below where we should be in order to avoid wasting games.
Some players must play three games in order to join a squad, while others may only need three.
According to Southgate, performance must be” spot on every time.”
Argentina, the World Cup champion, is at the top of the rankings, followed by France and Brazil. For five years in a row, England has been in the top five.
When asked if being in the top spot motivates him, Southgate replied,” Yeah, because eventually you get there through consistency, and you’ve got to play well in tournaments as well because the ranking points are higher there.”
Additionally, it establishes behaviors both on and off the training field each day.
There is no room for sloppiness or casualness if you want to be the top-ranked team. That must be our motivation.
Absences have disrupted England’s final camp of the year.
Due to injuries, five players left the original team, and two more left before taking off for the Balkans.
Injury forced Jarrod Bowen to leave the camp on Sunday, and the Football Association announced Kieran Trippier had left for personal reasons.