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Gareth Southgate Remains Optimistic Despite Injuries Ahead of England_ Vs Belgium Friendly
England_ manager Gareth Southgate remains resolute and_ optimistic about the upcoming friendly against Belgium amid injuries within his squad. Despite a recent 1-0 loss to Brazil, Southgate is eager to witness his team’s performance and_ assess the capabilities of his players, especially the newer faces, as they prepare for the European Championships.
“We deliberately took two high-level games and of course, we’ve had to put out a very different team to the one we might have envisaged,” Southgate remarked, acknowledging the adjustments made due to the injuries. The manager emphasized the importance of these matches in providing valuable experience for the players and_ aiding in the team’s preparation for the summer tournaments.
Southgate highlighted the significance of facing top-tier teams like Brazil and_ Belgium, stating, “Similar to (Brazil) we’re talking about a high-level game, a brilliant experience for the players, a chance to see new players again, build towards the summer.” He expressed his eagerness to observe how the squad copes with the challenge posed by’ Belgium currently ranked fourth in the world.
With notable absentees such as Harry Maguire, Kyle Walker, and Sam Johnstone due to injuries, Southgate acknowledged the impact on the team composition. The Football Association confirmed the return of these players to their clubs for assessment, necessitating adjustments in the squad. Manchester City’s Rico Lewis and_ Burnley’s James Trafford have been called up to the senior squad as replacements.
Southgate emphasized the opportunity for players to stake their claim for starting positions against formidable opponents like Belgium. “You need to see them against that sort of level of opposition to see if they’re going to be able to excel in the summer”.
England captain Harry Kane remains sidelined with an ankle injury, adding to the list of absentees for the Belgium clash.
