JAKARTA – England national team coach Gareth Southgate said Germany and Brazil remained the benchmarks for his squad. This was conveyed by the coach ahead of the England national team's away match to Germany headquarters on the second matchday of League A Group 3 UEFA Nations League at the Allianz Arena, on Wednesday, June 8 in the morning of GMT+7 (Western Indonesian Time or WIB).
"For me, Germany and Brazil are still the benchmarks in terms of countries that regularly and consistently win tournaments," Southgate said, citing Reuters.
Southgate led England to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and was runners-up at the Euros last year. On the way to the Euro final the Three Lions beat Germany before being beaten by Italy in the final match.
After failing in those two tournaments, England are now in preparation for the 2022 World Cup Qatar at the end of this year. However, to be able to become champions in the four-year event, they must consistently beat the big teams.
"You have to respect what they have done and what they did as a country. That's the mentality we are trying to create. We are trying to reach the final of the competition and a game like tomorrow is brilliant. The test we need," he said.
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England started the Nations League competition this season with less than optimal results. They lost 0-1 in the first match against Hungary.
It was England's first loss to Hungary in 60 years. Results that make them still caretaker in the temporary group standings.
"It's a good measure, the next game is always the hardest. It won't determine where we are in six months – just because we beat them now doesn't mean we'll be fine in five months. A lot will happen in that period," said Southgate.
"However, one of our toughest challenges is that we reach the semi-finals, but it is a question of whether we can beat the bigger teams."
"Since then, we won in Spain, beat Belgium at Wembley and we won. We beat Germany once. We've started to get those results and we just have to keep trying to do that."
After clashes with Germany, England hosts Italy on Saturday and Hungary on June 14.
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