England vs Germany: Prime Time of Southgate Proving
England vs Germany: Prime Time of Southgate Proving
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DORTMUND - For Gareth Southgate this his first game as permanent England manager. He should build foundations for decrease narrow the gap on their opponents Germany.
England's 3-2 win over the World Cup holders in Berlin last March left then manager Roy Hodgson proclaiming his "finest moment" in charge - only to resign in June after a humiliating last-16 exit to Iceland at Euro 2016.
Southgate, who replaced Hodgson's successor Sam Allardyce after an unbeaten four-game run in interim charge, faces a stern test in Dortmund on Wednesday before a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley on Sunday. The 46-year-old says plans are now in place that will put England in a position to finally catch up with the German model of consistent success.
"Some of those things have already started, such as the reform of academies and the improved focus on coaching, which is a process they went through," said Southgate.
"We've probably got some work to do in terms of the way they have a connection between the DFB (the German football association) and the Bundesliga that is immensely strong. There is an opportunity for the young German players to play in that league - there is a real buy-in on that, partly because of the ownership model of the clubs," he added.
"To highlight the difference, they postponed the start of the Bundesliga because they got a team in the Olympics. We can't even get a team in the Olympics. That is the collaboration they have."
However, he told: "We are different. We have to get off the island and learn from elsewhere. We have some great strengths and if we couple those with some other traits we could be more powerful than anybody, but we have a lot of work to get to that point."
Southgate also admitted the lack of recent major football success for England was the "missing piece" in the country's sporting portfolio.
"I'm not sure we've always looked at ourselves in the mirror as closely as we should, that's what we need as a football nation," he added.
"We've had success in every other sport in our country.
"It's probably the hardest one to succeed in - and if we do succeed it's the one that will have the most impact on our country and on the people."
Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Cahill, who will captain England against Germany in the absence of Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney and played in the game in Berlin, says his team will not be intimidated by the world champions.
"I am certainly respectful of the history of what they have done, but man for man I'm confident in the squad we've got and the players we have when I'm going out to face them," said the 31 year old player.
And how can the gap to Germany's model of consistent success finally be closed?
"That is probably the golden question isn't it?" Cahill said. "To develop, young players have to play as much football as they can at club level and play in massive, important games - play cup finals or win leagues. That will happen.
"The more experiences they go through - good and bad - will bring them on as players and characters.
"One thing for me is having the ability and the other is having the experience. This happens over time."
England's 3-2 win over the World Cup holders in Berlin last March left then manager Roy Hodgson proclaiming his "finest moment" in charge - only to resign in June after a humiliating last-16 exit to Iceland at Euro 2016.
Southgate, who replaced Hodgson's successor Sam Allardyce after an unbeaten four-game run in interim charge, faces a stern test in Dortmund on Wednesday before a World Cup qualifier against Lithuania at Wembley on Sunday. The 46-year-old says plans are now in place that will put England in a position to finally catch up with the German model of consistent success.
"Some of those things have already started, such as the reform of academies and the improved focus on coaching, which is a process they went through," said Southgate.
"We've probably got some work to do in terms of the way they have a connection between the DFB (the German football association) and the Bundesliga that is immensely strong. There is an opportunity for the young German players to play in that league - there is a real buy-in on that, partly because of the ownership model of the clubs," he added.
"To highlight the difference, they postponed the start of the Bundesliga because they got a team in the Olympics. We can't even get a team in the Olympics. That is the collaboration they have."
However, he told: "We are different. We have to get off the island and learn from elsewhere. We have some great strengths and if we couple those with some other traits we could be more powerful than anybody, but we have a lot of work to get to that point."
Southgate also admitted the lack of recent major football success for England was the "missing piece" in the country's sporting portfolio.
"I'm not sure we've always looked at ourselves in the mirror as closely as we should, that's what we need as a football nation," he added.
"We've had success in every other sport in our country.
"It's probably the hardest one to succeed in - and if we do succeed it's the one that will have the most impact on our country and on the people."
Meanwhile, Chelsea defender Cahill, who will captain England against Germany in the absence of Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney and played in the game in Berlin, says his team will not be intimidated by the world champions.
"I am certainly respectful of the history of what they have done, but man for man I'm confident in the squad we've got and the players we have when I'm going out to face them," said the 31 year old player.
And how can the gap to Germany's model of consistent success finally be closed?
"That is probably the golden question isn't it?" Cahill said. "To develop, young players have to play as much football as they can at club level and play in massive, important games - play cup finals or win leagues. That will happen.
"The more experiences they go through - good and bad - will bring them on as players and characters.
"One thing for me is having the ability and the other is having the experience. This happens over time."
(rnz)
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