Southgate admits England not at their best in victory over Malta

By James Reid

England’s Gareth Southgate expressed confidence in his team despite a lackluster 2-0 victory over Malta at home. The match saw an early own goal by Enrico Pepe, followed by a late goal from Harry Kane. However, Southgate remained composed and attributed the unremarkable performance to the demands of a lengthy season, with Euro 2024 qualification already secured.

Southgate dismissed concerns about the team’s form, stating, “It is not a worry because I think sometimes when players have so many matches, it is almost self-regulating as a player.”

He emphasized the reality of football, acknowledging that not every match will see players reaching their peak performance. Despite this, England’s qualification for the Euros in Germany is already secured, allowing room for experimentation and adjustments within the team.

Reflecting on the match, Southgate commended individual performances and highlighted the potential displayed by players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Phil Foden in midfield. He also noted the growth of international footballer Marc Guehi and the promising debut of Cole Palmer.

Looking ahead to the next fixture against North Macedonia, Southgate indicated that fitness would strongly influence player selection, particularly with Marcus Rashford picking up a knock during the Malta game.

Southgate concluded, “It is good for us to be away from Wembley again in a challenging environment because that is where we are going to be next summer.”