GARETH SOUTHGATE has promised his England players they can kick back with a MILKSHAKE on their day off today as reward for setting up a last-16 clash with Senegal.
Four years ago the Three Lions boss allowed his squad to have a few beers after making it out of the group at the Russia World Cup.
But with Qatar’s alcohol stocks as dry as a Middle-Eastern desert, the players will have to stick to milky soft drinks instead while they relax after sealing safe passage to the knockouts.
Boss Southgate joked: “We’ve got loads of milkshake back at the hotel!
“Everything is different here, isn’t it? We’re embracing it.
“We love our base camp, the people who are operating the hotel are fabulous. We’re enjoying each other’s company, the players are really tight.
“They get a day off now. They need that breather. They don’t have to look at our faces, which I’m sure they’re delighted with.
“We can start to prepare for the knockout round. The big business starts now, really.”
It was thirsty work for England in the first half last night (TUE) against Wales, but three goals after the break ensured Southgate’s side enjoyed the sweet taste of victory.
Marcus Rashford grabbed a double either side of a Phil Foden strike, justifying Southgate’s decision to start both players for the first time this World Cup.
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It means that all five of England’s widemen have netted during the tournament.
Rashford is on three, having scored in the 6-2 against Iran, putting him joint top-scorer out of all the countries, Bukayo Saka has two, while Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling have also netted.
Southgate is now spoilt for choice on the flanks, giving him a nice headache over who to pick against the Senegalese on Sunday.
The 52-year-old said: “You want those sorts of decisions. We need strength in depth. Different opponents require different qualities when we’re preparing the team.
“You need goals from all areas. It’s a problem for opposition teams if there’s a threat coming from other areas of the pitch. We have talked about that a lot.”
Harry Kane is yet to get off the mark but is now on three assists, having set up Foden’s strike last night and two in the Iran mauling, more than anyone else at the tournament so far.
But Southgate is not concerned about his captain’s barren run. He added: “Across the three games, pretty much all of our forward line have got off the mark, if not with goals, then important assists.
“That’s a good place for the forwards to be.
“It’s competition for places which we need and people have to deliver.
“I thought our forwards were good, our midfield was excellent, they controlled the game, they won so much second ball and pressed really well which made the opportunities for the forwards.”
England reached the last four in Russia four years ago, losing to Croatia, before making it all the way to the Euros final last summer where they lost on penalties to Italy.
Asked to compare the feeling to 2018, Southgate replied: “I think definitely compared to Russia, there’s a different mentality about the whole group, there’s more belief.
“Our objectives are different. In Russia we were just thinking can we win a knockout game.
“There’s more expectation now, more confidence. I don’t know if we’re ahead of where we were last summer. But we’re pleased the first objective (of qualification) is achieved.
“We’ve got most of the team out on the pitch which is fabulous for the group. And no yellow cards which is a really good position.”
