Gareth Southgate has urged his players to keep their eyes on the prize, as they get back to their Euro Qualifiers this month.
The Three Lions face an away double against Czech Republic and Bulgaria, knowing that a win in the first game in Prague could see them qualify for UEFA EURO 2020 next summer.
But Southgate also knows how important finishing the campaign in November with a perfect record will be for seeding in the draw and is very much focused on each game at a time.
“We do have an opportunity to qualify and if we can get that done this month then we can look towards the number of points we might need to be a seeded team as well,” he told TheFA.com after naming his squad for the games.
“But we can’t look any further than Prague initially and making sure we get that game right.
“I think we couldn’t be happier with the results in the qualifying group so far but two away games is a different sort of challenge.
“We’d be naïve to think we’re going to keep scoring fours and fives every time we play. If we do, then brilliant.
“But we know that with the game in Prague, Czech Republic are battling to qualify with ourselves and they’ll be wounded by the result at Wembley so that will be a very tough game for us.”
Southgate’s squad will meet up at St. George’s Park to begin their preparations on Monday, just three weeks after their last games against Kosovo and Bulgaria on home soil.
And after analysing his team’s performances in September, what is he looking for when the players get back on the training pitch this month?
“Always the level of performance, that has to be the start point,” he said.
“The way we train every day leads into the level of performance and if that is good then you’re more likely to get the wins that you want at the end.
“I thought the quality of our attacking play [last month] was excellent throughout. You only have to look at the number of goals we scored and the number of chances we created and the way our attacking play was.
“We were a real threat to teams when we had the ball and teams are on the back foot.
“We’ve retained the ball for quite a long period now, but we’re creating more chances and looking more dangerous when we go forward.
“We’re always threat on the counter attack, but we’re also a threat through our build-up play and the chances we create in those moments.
“So we have to continue to do that and make sure we’re more solid in defending our transitions and building on the defensive work that needs to happen if we’re to be a top team.”
Our clash with Montenegro on Thursday 14 November is the final qualifier at Wembley and is also England’s 1000th international game. Tickets are on sale at a variety of price points so make sure you’re there for a truly historic night!
TICKETS: ENGLAND V MONTENEGRO
