Southgate Calls for Excellence as England Begin Euro 2024 Campaign Against Serbia

Posted : 16 June 2024

England manager Gareth Southgate emphasized that his team must be "exceptional" to end a 58-year major tournament title drought as they begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Serbia on Sunday. With high expectations and a talented squad, Southgate aims to finally lead England to glory.

Tens of thousands of England supporters have flocked to Gelsenkirchen, eager for a strong performance after a surprising 1-0 loss to Iceland in their final warm-up match. England seeks to redeem themselves following their Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy at Wembley.

Under Southgate, England has come close in two World Cups, and he acknowledges this tournament could be his last chance for major success. Impressive starts by Germany and Spain highlight the challenge England faces. "There are a lot of good teams in this tournament. We have to be exceptional to progress through the group and have the opportunity to go further," Southgate said in his pre-match press conference. He stressed the importance of breaking down the tournament into manageable goals, starting with group qualification.

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Despite his impressive goalscoring record, England captain Harry Kane has yet to win a major trophy. "Winning a trophy for your country would be the pinnacle of every career," said Kane, who scored 44 goals in his debut season at Bayern Munich.

He expressed his determination to succeed, starting with this summer’s tournament. England is expected to advance easily from Group C, which also includes Denmark and Slovenia, who play each other earlier on Sunday.

Serbia's performance in qualifying poses little threat to England, but they have a formidable striker in Aleksandar Mitrovic, well-known from his time in the Premier League. Mitrovic has scored 40 goals in 43 games since joining Saudi side Al Hilal. "He's an outstanding goalscorer," Southgate noted.

Serbia coach Dragan Stojkovic acknowledged the challenge but emphasized that England must prove their status on the pitch. The match has been declared "high risk" by German police, with reduced-strength beer being served to mitigate potential hooliganism, a recurring issue at both English and Serbian matches. Both managers urged fans to enjoy the "carnival of football."

Southgate Calls for Excellence as England Begin Euro 2024 Campaign Against Serbia

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