By Simon PeachEngland manager, Gareth Southgate, is under no illusion about the task ahead and says the World Cup semi-finalists face an “exceptional challenge” for the rest of the year. Eight weeks after securing their best-ever World Cup performance on foreign soil, the semi-finalists were brought down to earth with a bump by Spain, in Saturday’s Uefa Nations League opener. England, currently sixth in the Fifa world rankings, fell to their first competitive home defeat since 2007. “We’ve got to look at everything,” the England manager said of improving ahead of Euro 2020. I think he was a consequence of a unique talent,” Southgate said of his former team-mate.

Source: Irish Examiner September 10, 2018 04:30 UTC