Month: September 2019

Both players will miss out as the Cafeteros take in a pair of non-competitive international clashes

Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez and Monaco forward Radamel Falcao have not been included in Colombia’s squad for next month’s friendlies against Brazil and Venezuela.

Madrid confirmed on Monday that the 28-year-old had suffered a calf injury in his right leg but did not say how much time the midfielder would miss.

James started for the Spanish giants for the first time since May 2017 on Saturday, when Zinedine Zidane’s side were held to a 1-1 La Liga draw by Real Valladolid.

After the game, James spoke of the “unique feeling” he had from playing at Santiago Bernabeu again.

The playmaker spent two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich, winning the Bundesliga title in both campaigns, but the German side opted not to sign the the Colombian on a permanent basis at the end of last season.

Atletico Madrid and Napoli were reportedly interested in signing James during the transfer window, but a deal failed to materialise and it looks likely he will stay at the Santiago Bernabeu beyond the transfer deadline of September 2.

James has made 112 appearances since arriving at Madrid in 2014 and still has two years left on his contract.

Falcao is yet to make an appearance for Monaco this season due to injury, while his future at the club remains in the air.  

The striker has been rumoured to be looking for a way out of Monaco this season after the club were almost relegated in the 2018-19 campaign. 

Click Here: Maori All Blacks Store

Galatasaray has been mentioned as his most likely landing spot as the 33-year-old looks to play Champions League football this season.

However, Monaco CEO Oleg Petrov has warned that Falcao’s move may not be completed before the September 2 transfer deadline. 

“Falcao is a great professional,” Petrov said last week . “He has ambitions obviously, he wants to play the Champions League and we understand him, but we want him to stay at the club, he has a contract and he has to respect it.”

Colombia reached the quarter-final stage of this summer’s Copa America, where they fell on penalties to Chile after a 0-0 draw over 120 minutes.

In the absence of James and Falcao, Colombia have called up Duvan Zapata, Rafael Santos Borre, Luis Muriel and Roger Martinez in attack for the upcoming friendlies.

The manager refused to look for excuses after his side lost to CFR Cluj in qualifying

Neil Lennon accused Celtic of conceding “crazy, suicidal” goals against CFR Cluj as they suffered a shock Champions League qualifying defeat.

The Scottish champions were beaten 4-3 in Glasgow on Tuesday to lose the tie 5-4 on aggregate and miss out on a play-off match against Slavia Prague.

Celtic were 1-0 down at half-time but moved 2-1 up through James Forrest and Odsonne Edouard, only for Abdel Billel Omrani to level the scores from the penalty spot.

The hosts hit back through Ryan Christie but Omrani struck again to make it 3-3 before George Tucudean made Cluj’s passage to the next round secure with the last kick of the game.

Celtic manager Lennon admitted his team were not good enough in the first half and felt they threw the lead away with their poor defending.

“The goals we conceded are crazy,” he told BBC Radio Scotland. “You’ve got to do the basics well – you’ve got to stop crosses, close people down, get your head on things – and it was almost as if we scored and wanted to switch off and control the game.

“In the first half, we were way too passive, way too slow with the tempo, so we gave them a bit of a razz at half-time and we got the right response going 2-1 up. But we needed that two-goal cushion. It’s suicidal the goals we gave away.

“The first goal, we got a warning before that, and we still didn’t stop the cross and the guy’s got across for a run. If you don’t do the basics defensively well enough then, at this level, you get punished.

“We’ve let it go. We’ve only ourselves to blame. We had the lead and we let it slip through our own decision-making, really.”

Lennon is keen to lift his side’s spirits before they now prepare for a play-off to reach the Europa League group stages.

“We’ve got to work with the players. We’ve got to raise their morale, first of all,” he said.

“We’re going to get a bit of criticism and that’s totally par for the course. We’ve worked really hard to get where we are and we’ve basically thrown it away. We’ve got some good defenders but for some reason they wanted to slow the game down.”

Click Here: All Blacks Rugby Jersey

The British singer-songwriter has emerged as one of the most recognisable musicians today, but what are his football allegiances?

Ed Sheeran is one of the most well-known English singer-songwriters of his generation, having risen to prominence in with his hit singles ‘The A Team‘ and ‘Thinking Out Loud’. His debut album + has since been certified seven-times platinum in the UK, and in 2012 won the Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act.

Click Here: Aston Villa Shop

With his humble boy-next-door attitude and easily accessible soulful pop-rock, it’s no wonder that Sheeran has won over millions with his open-hearted vulnerability. 

In addition to being a talented musician, Sheeran is also an avid football fan. As a born and bred Englishman, his support of the Three Lions is a given, but which club does the ginger-haired wonder support? Goal takes a look.

Though Sheeran was thought to be a Chelsea fan after a series of deleted Tweets in which he admitted that his father was a supporter of the Blues, the ‘Shape of You’ singer is actually a more fervent follower of a much less elite football team. 

Having grown up in Ipswich, Sheeran is actually a Tractor Boys fan, and still attends games at Portman Road Stadium quite frequently. 

“I grew up in a place called Ipswich, Ipswich have a football team called Ipswich Town,” Sheeran once said.

“I enjoy watching football, [but] my dad’s a Chelsea fan so I go with him every now and then.”

He went on to further confirm his status as a Tractor Boys supporter during a Radio 1 interview in which he admitted his song ‘Castle On the Hill’ is a “love song for Suffolk, because I don’t think anyone has ever done that”. You’re probably right, Ed.

The singer has posted several photos of himself attending Ipswich Town matches on his Instagram, fully clad in Blues gear.

Sheeran also has a penchant for donning national team jerseys during his stadium tours, having recently sported the Argentina kit and Uruguay kit during his shows in the two countries, respectively.

He has also swapped shirts with LA Galaxy striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and also wore a Welsh Ryan Giggs jersey while playing a summer arena show in Cardiff.

Just as he is a keen viewer of the sport, Sheeran is also a fan of playing football – but don’t expect him to switch his musical career for one as a professional footballer.

Sheeran recently joked about his lack of striking prowess in an Instagram video showcasing his (sub-par) finishing ability. In a video for Move Concerts Brasil, Sheeran posted a video of himself missing an open goal, captioning it: ‘@realmadrid sign me up plz’.

In a post describing the scrimmage, Sheeran elaborated: ‘We were terrible but it was such a fun experience. I scored a few but I think the goalie was just being nice. Such a lovely day. Thank you Phil and the team for setting it up x’.

Following the game, Sheeran was even gifted a shirt with ‘Edinho’ on the back.

Sheeran’s interest in sport isn’t just limited to football. He enjoys a wide range of sports, and is a noted rugby and NHL enthusiast.

Naturally, he is a supporter of the England rugby team and has also been spotted donning jerseys of hockey team New York Rangers and MLS side Atlanta United.

His interest in hockey isn’t a one-off either, as his partner Cherry Seaborn is a hockey player best known for her time playing for the Duke University Blue Devil’s Field Hockey team, where she helped the team to reach the NCAA championship match in 2013.

Additionally, Seaborn also led her field hockey team to back-to-back British University championships in 2012 and 2013.

Liverpool’s Egyptian King was back to his devastating best with two goals as Arsenal were brushed aside at Anfield

Watch out, Premier League. The unbearables are ready to roll once more.

Liverpool won the battle of the top two on Saturday evening, courtesy of a 3-1 win over an Arsenal side whose strong start to the campaign hit the rocks at a sun-kissed Anfield. 

And the manner of the Reds’ victory, with Mohamed Salah playing a central role, should send a message to those wondering if Jurgen Klopp’s side could repeat their form of last season.

Sorry to break it to you, but it looks like they can!

There have been questions at the start of the season, questions about their defending, about their attacking and about their midfield. Against Norwich, against Chelsea and against Southampton, they failed to fully convince.

Against Arsenal, though, they clicked into gear with a devastating second-half performance. The Gunners hate coming here; they’ve now conceded 33 goals in their last seven visits, winning none.

If it took an unlikely hero to bust open the game, it was a likely lad who illuminated it thereafter. Joel Matip’s header got Liverpool in front at the end of a first half in which both sides had their moments, but it was the Salah show after that.

The Egyptian won and then converted a penalty to make it 2-0, four minutes after the break. And then, 10 minutes later, came an ominous sight for Premier League defences, a reminder that this remains one of the world’s elite attackers, a player capable of breathtaking moments of individual brilliance.

Receiving a whipped pass from Fabinho just inside the Arsenal half, Salah anticipated the arrival of David Luiz behind him, spinning away from the Brazilian in an instant. Luiz, who had conceded the penalty with the laziest of shirt pulls, was left looking like a detective at the wrong crime scene as his man raced away.

Once clear, a finish was needed. Salah obliged, sliding the ball beyond Bernd Leno for 3-0. That’s three in three now. He fancies another Golden Boot to add to his collection, you can be sure.

For Liverpool, this was a day to enjoy, although they remain without a clean sheet this season after Lucas Torreira’s late consolation. In truth, they were indebted to a couple of let-offs in the first half when Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and, in particular, Nicolas Pepe might have done better.

Elsewhere there was the sight of Trent Alexander-Arnold clocking up another assist, his corner headed home emphatically by Matip, and of Andy Robertson producing yet another lung-busting performance on the other flank. In midfield, Liverpool dominated for the most part, pressing and harrying Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka into submission. Arsenal’s midfield diamond, as  Sky Sports  commentator Gary Neville put it, looked more like a rhombus for the most part.

Meanwhile up front, Roberto Firmino’s flicks and touches had Anfield purring. The Brazilian, like Salah, is looking razor sharp this season. Keeping him fit and fresh is vital. 

That will concern those hoping for a drop-off, those seeking a chink in the armour of the European champions. Keep looking, there aren’t many. Liverpool have lost one of their last 42 league games, and are unbeaten at home in more than two years. They’re some team.

There may not be any new faces to get excited about, but no fear; the old ones will do just fine for now. They’re top of the league. Can they stay there?

Click Here: Aston Villa Shop

Click:City Tour Shanghai

The forward went viral when she kicked a 55-yard field goal last week, leading to enquiries from professional teams

It started with a simple viral video but one week later, Carli Lloyd has found herself talking seriously about becoming an NFL placekicker – and fielding offers to do so as well. 

The U.S. women’s national team forward nailed a 55-yard field goal at a joint practice session for the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens last week, impressively doing so through a goal post that was narrower than regulation size. 

That video set the internet ablaze and just days later, Lloyd was reportedly fielding offers to kick for an unnamed NFL team in a preseason game. 

The 37-year-old turned down the offer due to a scheduling conflict with her day job: The USWNT takes on Portugal in Philadelphia on Thursday as part of their five-game World Cup victory tour.  

Lloyd, however, was bullish on her chances of eventually making history as the first woman to play in the NFL.  

“There’s got to be a first for everything,” Lloyd said on Wednesday. “I know that mentally you need to have thick skin, you’ve got to be mentally tough.  

“I invite pressure, I love pressure, I’ve got that all kind of ticked off and now it’s just a matter of knowing if I can do it and go from there.” 

Lloyd is well aware that doing it in an actual football game is far different than what she accomplished in a practice session last week. 

For one, she’ll have to do so with a helmet and pads on. She also won’t have the luxury of kicking without any resistance in front of her.  

“I’d maybe need a couple 300-pound men to rush at me,” Lloyd said.  

Additionally, the two-time World Cup champion took a five-step run-up when she was practicing field goals. Most NFL kickers only have time to take two steps. 

“I want to actually go out there and try to take a two-step kick to make sure that I can actually do it,” Lloyd said. “If I can do that from a pretty good distance then I would feel a lot more comfortable.” 

She’ll have to master several ancillary skills but Lloyd does have two of the most important attributes any successful kicker needs: power and accuracy.  

“I think 100 percent she can do it,” USWNT head coach Jill Ellis said. “No doubt in my mind. 

“I remember when I first came on the scene I saw Carli Lloyd strike a ball on goal and I said, ‘Holy crap, that’s the hardest I’ve ever seen a woman hit a ball’. So she certainly has the velocity and the technique.” 

Ellis is set to leave her position in October and when her replacement comes in, Lloyd will have much more clarity on whether her future will involve footballs of a round or oblong shape. 

“I’m waiting on a new coach to be announced and if that coach would like to see me in the Olympic plans then I’m all for it,” Lloyd said of next summer’s tournament in Tokyo.

“But if that coach doesn’t then I’ve got to think of some other things that I want to do.”

There is, of course, one other hurdle Lloyd would have to overcome to be an NFL player, which Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen described on Twitter on Tuesday.

“Sound sweet til somebody block the kick and all of a sudden she on defense,” Allen wrote. “Would be like the stampede scene in the lion king movie. She do got a boot tho!”

Kickers find themselves on the receiving end of hits most often on kickoffs, but a team could theoretically use their punter for those. But, as Allen said, if Lloyd saw one of her field goals blocked, she’d be fair game. 

Could Lloyd take a hit? Most NFL kickers are among their teams’ smallest and most vulnerable players anyway, and Lloyd is under no illusions that she’d be any different. 

“You can’t really touch a kicker but it happens,” Lloyd said. “I’m not naive to that.

“But yeah, 300 pounds coming at me, I’d probably try to give my best shot but I don’t know, I might be in the hospital after that.”

Click Here: Golf special

After being nominated for one of football’s most prestigious awards, the Melbourne-born tactician has emerged as a flag-bearer for Australian coaches

“I thought someone was playing a joke on me, I’ll be honest with you.”

Joe Montemurro was in disbelief when he was told of his nomination for the The Best FIFA Women’s Coach.

The Arsenal Women’s boss was informed of the honour by a former player – but it wasn’t the most trustworthy of sources.

“I walked off the park and went in to my office and there was a text message saying congratulations from an ex-player of mine,” Montemurro told Goal in an exclusive interview. 

“She’s a bit of a joker and we always have a bit of banter between us. I thought she was being silly. Then a couple of other people came in and showed me stuff and I realised it was true.”

It’s been a rapid journey for Montemurro, who only accepted his first women’s football role with the National Training Centre in Victoria in 2014, before moving on to become the manager of Melbourne Victory’s W-League side in that same year.

After defecting to rivals to Melbourne City in 2015, to be in charge of their inaugural W-League side, Montemurro showed his coaching capabilities by leading the team to both the premiership and championship – in an incredible unbeaten season that saw them score 42 goals and concede only five.

HIs stunning success saw the City Football Group head honchos take note and he was shifted to be a part of the men’s setup, first as an assistant to John van ‘t Schip before retaining that role through the interim tenure of Michael Valkanis and the appointment of Warren Joyce.

After starting as assistant to Joyce in the 2017 A-League pre-season, Montemurro switched to a different role at the club because of creative differences between the two tacticians, but in contrast to reports, he says there was no friction in the change and expressed his admiration for his former colleague.

“There was no tension, issues or sacking whatsoever. It was obviously just a new coach coming in and [Joyce] had his beliefs on the way things should be done,” Montemurro said. 

“Warren had his own ideas and it was a situation where we had different views and approaches on the game – which is normal. He wanted things done his certain way and I supported him 100 percent to the point I could. 

“Everyone has their own opinion on the way things should be done and we had some style differences. We just felt it was better if I took on another role, instead of working with Warren. I’ve got a lot of respect for Warren and for what he does.”

This was the start of Montemurro’s journey to Arsenal and only two months later he was in charge of their women’s team after the English giants sought out his services – incredibly landing his first big coaching role at the club he had supported his whole life.

Uprooting your life and moving overseas is a huge thing for anyone to undertake, but Montemurro knew he was ready to test himself against peers regarded as the best in the world and work at an organisation of Arsenal’s size.

“There wasn’t any second thoughts at the journey overseas. There is a big change in terms of difference in lifestyle and ideas and attitude. But I can’t thank Arsenal enough for giving me this opportunity – I’m very happy,” he said. 

“I think like anything, you want to test yourself on the best scale possible and you want to be the best in the world at the highest level. I’m grateful that I’ve got this opportunity.

“It’s amazing [to work at Arsenal]. Just the constant learning and the values and humilities of these big organisations – they really value who they are and how they are perceived. This is right throughout the club and everyone who works at the club from the people doing the operational work to the football people to the people in the media to the people in commercial.

“And when you are in there, you understand why they are the size that they are and what they mean to a lot of people around the world. I’ve been blessed to be an Arsenal supporter my whole life and have seen the club develop. Now I have the opportunity to see hands on why they are a great club.”

Montemurro has only been at Arsenal for less than two years but the progress of the team under his watch has been truly astounding.

When he took over in November 2017, the Gunners had not won a league title for six years, their last trophy was the 2015 FA Women’s Cup and they had not been in the Champions League for three years.

By March 2018 he had claimed his trophy with the team winning the FA Women’s League Cup and two months later fell just short in the FA Women’s Cup final.

After finishing third in his first Women’s Super League season, Montemurro led the Gunners to the 2018-19 title with a game to spare – in a campaign that included nine straight wins – with the club also reaching their target of Champions League qualification.

“The role was to bring the club back to competing with the best teams in Europe. We always said that Arsenal needs to be in the top four-six teams in Europe,” Montemurro said. 

“There was a lot of work stabilising the squad and getting the mentality right. The players have been fantastic. They are the ones who have brought forward the ideas and methodology in the way we want to play. They have also brought this to life in everyday actions and in training too. They deserve the credit to bringing it back to where it is.

“We think we have stabilised it now and got somewhere we hope we can move forward and keep going at the level we are going at.”

And there is no reason to think Montemurro’s progression as a coach won’t continue, especially when you hear him speak of why he loves the profession.

He also understands that he is in a position to be a flag-bearer for Australian coaches, hoping to pave the way for others to reach the top.

“The beauty of coaching is that it never ends. There is never a day where you can’t learn anymore. The constant journey of development is the exciting bit that I love about the profession,” he said.

“Sometimes you have just got to pinch yourself and realise where you’re at. But in the end I’ve got an opportunity to test myself on the highest level possible in the world.

“Hopefully I can bring the flag forward for Australian coaches that we are good enough, that we are talented enough and we can do things on the world scale.”

Click Here: pandora Bangle cheap

Abercrombie & Fitch has jumped on the sustainability bandwagon. The
global apparel retailer has joined over 9,900 other companies in
participating in the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary
initiative based on CEO commitments to universal sustainability
principles.

Along with its participation in the United Nations Global Compact,
Abercrombie & Fitch announced new sustainability targets it aims to
accomplish in the next few years. These goals include responsibly
sourcing its materials by using either recycled fibers or fibers made
with a sustainable process by 2025, reducing water use in denim by 30
percent by 2022 and instituting training programs for its vendor
partners to educate on health and wellness by 2022.

The company developed its sustainability targets to align with the
UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, which address the issues of
poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation and
justice.

Abercrombie & Fitch becomes latest big brand to join UN Global Compact

“Joining the UN Global Compact and setting our new sustainability
targets through 2025 are major steps forward for A&F,” said CEO Fran
Horowitz in a statement. “This is part of a long-term journey we’re on
to ensure that sustainability is truly embedded throughout our entire
organization, with the focus of our new goals being on where we can
have the greatest positive impact by 2025.

“Sustainability is an important part of who we are as a company,
and to our customers, our employees and our partners. These goals
demonstrate our commitment to having an enduring positive impact on
the communities we touch around the world.”

Click Here: cheap INTERNATIONAL jersey

In the past few months, , and
are just a few of the other big fashion names to announce new sustainability targets.

Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact works with companies to
align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas
of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. With more than 9,500 companies
and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and 70 Local Networks,
it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world.

Picture:Abercrombie & Fitch media centre

Click:裝修
The frowad notched a goal and an assist in his first match since June, much to the delight of his former Barcelona and PSG team-mate

Dani Alves described playing with Neymar as a joyous experience after the Brazil star scored on his long-awaited return to the pitch.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward set aside three months of injury issues and transfer speculation as he made his first appearance of the season in the Selecao’s 2-2 friendly draw against Colombia in Florida on Friday.

Though relatively quiet in the first half, he delivered the corner from which Casemiro opened the scoring and later preserved his side’s unbeaten streak by side-footing home in the 58th minute.

Luis Muriel scored a brace in between for Colombia, but Neymar’s influential outing grabbed attention in the wake of his failed move back to Barcelona.

“It’s always a joy to have Ney doing what he knows best, enjoying himself and doing his best for the national team,” the experienced Alves told Globo .

“We have affection for him and when he is focused his level is very high.

“Let’s let him do what he can do, which is to play football. We’re here to help him.”

The warmth with which Brazil’s players greeted Neymar’s return was not shared by Colombia, who fouled the PSG star four times.

One notable shove from Davinson Sanchez ended with the 27-year-old Neymar flying into the advertising board.

Goalscorer and Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, recipient of the game’s only yellow card for a first-half tackle on striker Muriel, was unimpressed with the opposition’s approach.

“Guys come to play against Brazil and want to intimidate, putting their hands on us, talking, wanting to hit us,” Casemiro said.

“You have to win on the ball. They have their tactics and we have ours. When it comes to Brazil there are no friendlies.

“Teams are always strong against us, so we have to play hard.

“I took the yellow [for the challenge on Muriel] and I apologised.”

Brazil return to the pitch on Tuesday, once again in the United States, to take on Peru in Los Angeles. 

PSG will be hoping Neymar’s return to the pitch brings him back to the French side as well. The club are off to a fine start in Ligue 1 with three wins from three, but they’ll open their Champions League campaign on September 18 with a massive showdown against Real Madrid. 

Click Here: kanken kids cheap

The 38-year-old striker appears to have called time on a career which began way back in 1997, bringing glittering success in Europe and Africa

Legendary Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o has seemingly announced his retirement from football at the age of 38. 

Eto’o, who made his senior debut in 1997, scored more than 350 goals across his club career, winning the Champions League twice with Barcelona and once with Inter. 

With two Africa Cup of Nations titles and an Olympic gold medal to his name, Eto’o is an undisputed icon of African football and retires with 56 goals in 118 games for his country. 

But in an Instagram post on Friday, Eto’o wrote: “THE END. TOWARDS A NEW CHALLENGE …Thank you all big love, adrenaline.”

 

He most recently spent a season with Doha-based Qatar Sports Club, and has spoken in the past of his desire to pursue a further career in coaching, telling CanalPlus : “I won in Europe as a player, I have to win in Europe as a coach.” 

After spending his youth at the Kadje Sports Academy in Cameroon, Eto’o was signed by Real Madrid as a youngster but only made three league appearances for the club’s first team. 

Following a successful loan spell in 2000, he signed for Mallorca, where a record of 54 goals in 133 league games earned him a move to Barcelona in the summer of 2004. 

He shone immediately for the Catalan giants, scoring 25 league goals in his first season and 26 in his second as Barca won back-to-back Spanish titles – their first of the new millennium. His efforts saw him come third in the 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year award, behind Ronaldinho and Frank Lampard. 

In total, Eto’o won La Liga three times, along with two Champions Leagues, a Copa Del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups before moving to Jose Mourinho’s Inter in 2009.

More success beckoned in Italy with a Serie A title, another Champions league, the Club World Cup and two Coppa Italias.

The latter half of his career took on a more nomadic feel, but goals generally continued to flow. Three years in Russia with Anzhi Makhachkala were followed by two in the Premier League with Chelsea and Everton, before a brief return to Italy with Sampdoria.

In 2015, a move to Turkey beckoned as he spent three more goal-filled years with Antalyaspor, notching 44 in 76 league games before a move to Konyaspor and eventually Qatar SC.

Among other records, Eto’o retires as Cameroon’s all-time top scorer, the Africa Cup of Nations’ all-time top scorer, and a four-time African Player of the Year.

The Three Lions boss wants a certain mentality heading into the summer’s Euros and will change up his squad if necessary to get it

Gareth Southgate has warned he will not tolerate any drop in intensity from players in the England squad and will replace any one who switches off.

The England boss is set to lead his squad in Euro 2020 qualification against Bulgaria on Saturday, followed by a match against Kosovo on Tuesday.

Click Here: kenzo online españa

Having made successive tournament semi-finals between the World Cup and Nations League, and currently leading qualifying group A despite having played just two games, Southgate expects England to qualify for the Euros with ease.

And as a result, he is requiring intensity in training as well as in matches from his players in order to properly prepare them for this summer’s tournament.

“We need to keep ramping up the pressure,” Southgate told reporters.

“We know we won’t have as many high-pressure experiences in the next eight months or so, unless we start to make problems for ourselves with qualifying.

“So we have to bring that intensity to every training session. We’ve decided we need to challenge everybody more and more, not accept any taking the foot off the gas.

“The players understand that challenge, they want the challenge. I must not overreact to everything that happened that night against Holland (in the Nations League semi-final) – but we made too many errors in a big game.

“We know we will improve if our work’s right and our mentality is right.

“You have to constantly improve, tweak different patterns, constantly improve the detail. All the time, you’ve got to be on top of all of those things.”

England’s battle for places has grown highly competitive over the past year, with youth internationals pressing for places in the first team, displacing veterans.

Jadon Sancho and Trent Alexander-Arnold are two of the young players who have broken through, with Kyle Walker losing out on a place this time around.

And Southgate believes that the intense comptition for places will prove motivator enough for his players in the matches to come.

“The players have their own motivation. But in the end, competition for places is a pretty good motivator,” Southgate said.

“If you know there are people that can come into the team, that there are decisions with one player or the other and form and fitness at any given time that can determine who gets in.

“The younger guys now are after the older ones – the older ones are still proud and want to stay in, and that’s a really healthy situation.”