Southgate: England must get used to being favourites

Gareth Southgate is happy England is a favourite for its Euro 2020 qualifying group, adamant it needs to get familiar with that feeling.

Published : Dec 03, 2018 17:17 IST

England manager Gareth Southgate
England manager Gareth Southgate
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England manager Gareth Southgate

England needs to start getting used to being favourite after being given a kind Euro 2020 qualification draw, according to manager Gareth Southgate.

The Three Lions were drawn into Group A on Saturday and will face Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Kosovo in their bid to reach the tournament.

READ| Euro 2020 qualifying draw in full

England's Nations League exploits means it is already assured of at least a play-off spot, as it finished top of its group ahead of Spain and Croatia, while it also impressed at the World Cup earlier this year.

The country has captured the imagination of supporters for an entertaining brand of football and Southgate's trust in young players, though the manager has told his players to start experiencing the pressure of expectation.

"We're favourites and that's something we've got to start getting used to anyway," Southgate told reporters.

"We're going to have high expectations over the next few years and adapting to that is probably key to our development as a team. Look, it's up to us, isn't it?

"I think it can be a really exciting 18 months. We've got this coming summer to look forward to and then a big chance because we host [some games at Euro 2020] and we have to make sure we are there.

"That could be an incredibly exciting two-year period from the World Cup right through and a great opportunity for our players."

England will find out its Nations League semifinal opponent on Monday, with Switzerland, Portugal and Netherlands joining it in the last four.

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