Southgate admits younger England players felt pressure in Nations League

Gareth Southgate has admitted some of his younger England players felt the weight of the shirt during a high‑stress Nations League get-together.

The manager was the focal point for criticism after the 1-0 defeat against Italy in Milan last Friday, the travelling fans booing him at full time. The result had followed the 4-0 home defeat against Hungary in June when Southgate was also jeered – the final tie in a sequence of four, which started with the away loss against Hungary and took in draws with Germany and Italy.

The fear was that the negativity would hold the team back and they wobbled in the Wembley game with Germany on Monday, falling 2-0 behind in the second half. But Southgate was delighted with the quality and character they showed to take a 3-2 lead, even though a soft, late concession gave Germany a draw – feeling the emotion and experience would bolster them for the World Cup in Qatar, which kicks off in late November.

“They have been through a lot and the psychology of it all is fascinating for us,” Southgate said.

“Different expectations, different levels of experience in the group. Some young ones that are actually handling it brilliantly and some that are needing help and guidance. They will be thinking: ‘What is this?’

“We have talked about how the shirt feels and they are experiencing for the first time a little bit what some of the older ones have been through in the past. That [comeback against Germany] is what we want. That’s the style of play that we know they are capable of. We have to keep instilling the belief and the confidence in them to be able to do it.”

Southgate pushed the theme of resilience in adversity and he applied it specifically to Harry Maguire, the Manchester United defender, who