‘Expectations are rising’ – Southgate

England manager Gareth Southgate spoke to BBC Sport ahead of his country’s Euros appearance, here are his comments:

On leading England in major tournaments: “I’ve competed four times as a player myself so I have a lot of experience in big tournaments. I think we need to realise that things are never straightforward. We’ll be here for another 30 days or so and some of those days will be fun days with training going well and no issues. Other days will be more chaotic. There are lots of aspects of the tournament where I think experience will definitely help.”

Looking back at the Euro 2020 final: “I don’t know right now. For me it’s irrelevant. Whatever reputation or history there is, you have to produce results next month. It’s good to have players who have been through all that, but at the same time you have to prove it every day.”

Team Changes: “We didn’t necessarily expect that two or three months ago, but we have had some physical issues with some of our players and some young players who have played very well this season and deserved to play. We’ve lost experience from the squad and the bonding process is different as players get to know each other. There’s also an energy and fearlessness as players start to come in and that brings something different.”

Should England win? “I know the consequences of not doing so, but I have to remind everyone that this is a young group of players. My job is to protect them and get them to perform, but expectations are high. My job is to guide them through any challenges that arise early in the tournament.”

“It’s an honour to lead your country into a tournament. I felt that when I went to Russia and I still feel that way now. I was at Newcastle before the tournament and Bobby Robson was talking about the perks of the job. As a manager you can’t hear those stories enough because it reminds you why you do it. It’s a great privilege.