Gareth Southgate England press conference: Every word as the manager previews Spain Nations League tie
Southgate addressed the media ahead of Monday's match
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
England go into Monday's Uefa Nations League game against Spain without a win in their last four competitive matches, not that that is worrying Gareth Southgate.
On Friday they drew 0-0 with Croatia in a strange Nations League game that was held without any supporters in the stadium. Jadon Sancho came on from the bench late in the match and may have done enough to persuade Southgate to give him a full international cap in Seville.
Spain go into the match with a run of three wins from three games under new manager Luis Enrique, including a 6-0 win against Croatia and a 4-1 victory over Wales.
Stones and Henderson suspended
"It's clear Joe Gomez will be coming in for John (Stones). He's in good form for his club and his games for us have been polished performances. He's a very good defender and uses the ball well. I'm looking forward to seeing him in this game. We're building a squad of players that are playing at the highest level.
"Midfield we're having to deal without Jordan Henderson."
Jordan Pickford speaks
"I heard them from a distance and the fans travel all over the world for us.
"Spain are a top opponent and we're prepared, it's a great challenge for the team. Hopefully we can show the fans and country what we're made of.
"There're a top side and hopefully we can keep a clean sheet, we've got the ability up top to score goals."
Back to Southgate
"I think their style is a little bit different. They've got a top coach and they're a little bit more direct and they've got players with speed in the front three. The style and philosophy is there but the tactics are a little bit different. It's as tough a test you can have in European football. At Wembley we were slow when we started but we got better."
Southgate on the impact of the World Cup
"I think it's psychological freshness rather than physical - everybody adapts their training load appropriately. I don't really understand why our league started so early but they did. It was an impossible situation for the coaches, really"
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments