England boss Gareth Southgate plays down expectations in Group C at Euro 2024 and claims that Joe Hart is to thank for him still being in charge of the Three Lions

• Southgate has downplayed his side’s chances in Group C at Euro 2024
• The Three Lions have been drawn against Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia 
•  We expected perfection from VAR – we haven’t got it: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off

England boss Gareth Southgate has downplayed his side’s chances in Group C at Euro 2024 after avoiding several big countries in the draw.

The Three Lions will face Serbia, Slovenia and Denmark as they look to go one better than at Euro 2020 and win the tournament.

There will be a repeat of the semi-final that year against Denmark, with the Danes out for revenge.

While England are firm favourites to qualify from their group, boss Southgate has downplayed their chances of winning it with ease as he said:  ‘You can look at it on paper but the games aren’t played on paper. 

‘There are some teams that you are glad to avoid in Pot 3 and Pot 4 but all of the teams that we play are more than capable.’

England boss Gareth Southgate has downplayed his side’s chances in Group C at Euro 2024 after avoiding several big countries in the draw

The Three Lions are one of the favourites going into the tournament as they seek glory

Southgate made an honest admission about Joe Hart, who he believes may have saved his job in the early stages against Euro 2024 opponents Slovenia

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He continued to go into detail on England’s opponents, starting with discussing Serbia and a former Premier League star.

‘You look at Serbia with a centre forward like Aleksander Mitrovic and then you have to be careful not to assume anything when you see these draws,’ he said.

Southgate continued to make an honest admission about his start to life as England manager as his side faced Slovenia in his early reign.

He continued: ‘Slovenia was one of the first games I had as England manager. I will always remember Joe Hart made a save that day that if he didn’t make, I might not be still England manager so you do think back to those moments.’

The England boss finalised by looking ahead to Euro 2024 and discussing how his side will prepare as they look to win the tournament in Germany. 

‘We’re now able to work out our bases, opposition [for warm-up games], where we stay so it just gives us a bit more clarity now the draw is done,’ he said.

‘We’re hugely excited to be part of the tournament, we know the expectation at home, we’ve developed a lot as a team in the last few years and we’re getting used to these big games so we’re ready for that expectation.

‘We hope we can give our supporters some more brilliant nights as I think we have in the last few tournaments.’

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