- Southgate does not consider the match against Slovakia as his last match in charge
- The meeting will take place against a backdrop of great uncertainty
- Listen to It’s all starting to happen! EURO DAILY: It’s time to support England!
Gareth Southgate insists he is not thinking about Sunday night being his last game as England manager, as he calls on his supporters to make sure his players feel the love during their thrilling match against Slovakia.
Captain Harry Kane – who has urged the team’s failed strikers to be ‘ruthless’ – will lead England into battle as they attempt to book a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
However, the match comes against a backdrop of great uncertainty over Southgate’s future, amid fan discontent with the 53-year-old, who has been at the helm for eight years.
Southgate was pelted with plastic beer cups after Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia, as a group of angry fans made their feelings towards the England head coach clear.
But Southgate has urged fans to back England ahead of Sunday’s last-16 clash, saying: “They’re a young team. They’re a team that can be influenced by the fans in a really positive way, so they need that love, they need that support, they need that vocal support that they had the other night — particularly in the second half.
Gareth Southgate has urged supporters to show their love to the England players on Sunday
There is uncertainty over Southgate’s future due to fan discontent and some England fans showed their frustration by throwing plastic beer cups at him after the draw against Slovenia
Sunday could be Southgate’s last game as national coach if they suffer a surprise defeat to Slovakia
Southgate says his team can be ‘influenced by the fans in a really positive way’ during the match
“And it can only help them to give more and more, so that’s the reason I’m here to lead the team and try to give my country the best chance to win.”
Asked if he had considered that Sunday’s match could be his last as England manager, he added: ‘No. I enjoy being here.
“I want to stay here for two more weeks. I have nothing to rush back for. I look forward to staying here for a few more days.”
Southgate will select Kieran Trippier at left-back after the Newcastle defender trained at their Weimar base for the first time in two days on Saturday afternoon.
The England boss is expected to make one change from the team that drew with Slovenia, with Kobbie Mainoo replacing Conor Gallagher in midfield.
There is hope, depending on how the match develops, that Luke Shaw can replace Trippier late in the match. Shaw has not played for five months due to a hamstring injury, but has trained fully this week.
There are reports that Southgate will have to replace his attacking line of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden and Kane after three disappointing attacking performances in the group stage, in which only two goals were scored.
Kieran Trippier will start at left back again on Saturday afternoon after training
Kobbie Mainoo becomes the only new face for Chelsea player Conor Gallagher
There have been calls that Southgate should destroy his forward line of Jude Bellingham (left), Phil Foden (right), Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane
Southgate, however, remains loyal to the foursome, although Kane has urged his attacking colleagues to take a tougher stance against the Slovaks: ‘It’s about having that discipline in your positions, being patient enough in the areas where you can hurt them, and then being really ruthless.
‘I feel like we’ve been ruthless on the defensive side, in terms of blocking, crossing and winning balls, and now it’s up to me, the attacking players and maybe the midfielders to maybe be a bit more ruthless in the last third of the pitch.’
Kane, who has scored once so far, has warned Slovakia that he is ready to hit top gear here in Germany.
The Bayern Munich forward has scored six goals in his previous six knockout games for England and added: ‘It’s the process of the tournament, of course you get stronger physically, of course you get sharper. We’ve played three games in a short space of time.
Harry Kane has warned Slovakia he is ready to go all out in the knockout stages
‘I feel that players reach their maximum sharpness for knockout matches and that is what I have discovered in recent tournaments.
‘As the team’s striker I want to score goals and help the team to the next round. Knockout football is a different prospect to the group stage, we have handled that well in the past and it is time to do it again.’