Gareth Southgate: Embarrassment to country that Italy game behind closed doors

Gareth Southgate says it is an “embarrassment” for the whole country that England’s reunion with Italy has to be played behind closed doors as punishment for fan disorder at the Euro 2020 final.

After opening their Nations League campaign with a shock 1-0 loss in Hungary and hard-fought 1-1 draw in Germany, the Three Lions return to home soil for back-to-back matches at Molineux.

Tuesday’s fixture against Hungary will be played in front of a sell-out crowd in Wolverhampton but Saturday’s glamour game with Italy will played in front of empty stands, bar a few thousand local school children.

The Football Association is having to host the match behind closed doors as part of UEFA’s punishment for issues that marred the Euro 2020 final, with a number of ticketless supporters forcing their way into Wembley 11 months ago.

“Well if it is an embarrassment, it is for England as a country really,” England boss Southgate said of the punishment.

“A lot of the people who caused the problems I am not certain were football fans but we have spoken enough about it.

“We spoke after the final, we spoke when the punishment was first given.”

What I have to say is that the vast majority of our fans who travelled to Germany behaved brilliantly and I think they enjoyed the game and the performance- Gareth Southgate

While rightly critical of the behaviour around the Euro 2020 final, Southgate was keen to praise England supporters for their overall behaviour in Munich.

Authorities were poised for trouble that did not materialise, with the FA messaging fans thanking them for the “positive support in the stadium did not go unnoticed and was appreciated by both the team and backroom staff.”

“What I have to say is that the vast majority of our fans