"We'll be ready. Tonight didn't go the way we expected. I told the players that every day isn't going to go the way you want it to and tonight was one of those nights," Southgate said in the post-match conference. .
England begin their campaign against Serbia on June 16 and Southgate will certainly have his work cut out to get it right. Many fans are questioning the 53-year-old's tactics as he has left out experienced players like Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Harry Maguire from the final 26-man squad.
"We had some very, very good chances that would normally have been finished which could have given a different color to the game and affected the opponent's confidence. But it could also have hidden some flaws which were evident tonight ,” said the Englishman.
It was Southgate's English team who failed to win the Euros in the same stadium in 2020 after Italy won on penalties. The team faced criticism for their on-field performance at both the half-time and full-time whistles.
"From my point of view, I've learned a lot from the game but I don't mind the reaction of the supporters. Having the fans here with you obviously makes a big difference but you've got to give them enough goalmouth action, you've got to play well Enough is enough, press intensely to keep the ball during the game and win and we did not do that tonight so we have to accept the reaction as it was,” he concluded.
England begin their campaign against Serbia on June 16 and Southgate will certainly have his work cut out to get it right. Many fans are questioning the 53-year-old's tactics as he has left out experienced players like Marcus Rashford, Jack Grealish, James Maddison and Harry Maguire from the final 26-man squad.
"We had some very, very good chances that would normally have been finished which could have given a different color to the game and affected the opponent's confidence. But it could also have hidden some flaws which were evident tonight ,” said the Englishman.
It was Southgate's English team who failed to win the Euros in the same stadium in 2020 after Italy won on penalties. The team faced criticism for their on-field performance at both the half-time and full-time whistles.
"From my point of view, I've learned a lot from the game but I don't mind the reaction of the supporters. Having the fans here with you obviously makes a big difference but you've got to give them enough goalmouth action, you've got to play well Enough is enough, press intensely to keep the ball during the game and win and we did not do that tonight so we have to accept the reaction as it was,” he concluded.
