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Southgate set to experiment in Nations League
Gareth Southgate says he is willing to risk more bad results in the Nations League in order to experiment with his England squad ahead of the World Cup in Qatar.
Saturday saw the Three Lions fall to a surprise 1-0 defeat against Hungary in Budapest, with Southgate handing full debuts to West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen and Leicester defender James Justin.
With Germany and Italy also in their group, qualification now looks a tall order and the 51-year-old boss has admitted results are not his top priority in the competition.
He said: “I knew going into this block of four games that you run the risk of some results that might hurt.
“But I have got to look at the bigger picture and ignore the inevitable that comes with the defeats and take what I will learn from it going into Qatar. We have not got friendlies to try it so we have to do it in these types of games.
“We do not have a 38-game league where you are working with the players all of the time, so if I don’t try some of the players in these sorts of games we either flog the team which has been more consistent and we know all about, and they fade at the end of these four games anyway.
“Or, we try to balance it by putting some players in with some players with experience around them, which hopefully gives them the best chance to succeed.”
Changes are expected for tomorrow night’s clash with old foes Germany, who are 10 games unbeaten under Hansi Flick following their 1-1 weekend draw in Italy.
Ronaldo gets on his bike
Brazil icon Ronaldo is set to rack up the miles on his bike following Real Valladolid’s promotion to LaLiga.
The ex-Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker, now 45, owns a 51% stake in the Spanish club and promised to cycle the 280-mile Camino de Santiago trail if they sealed a top-tier return.
Speaking before departing on his ride, Ronaldo said: “It will be beautiful. I know that I will suffer physically, but it will be an unforgettable experience.
“When we were relegated, I knew we had to do a lot of work to get back to the first division.
“I made the promise, and we’ve done a very good job, especially at the beginning of the year, with all the changes we’ve made, all the philosophies we’ve changed.”
Pilgrims suffer break-in
Plymouth have appealed to the public for information after intruders broke into their Home Park stadium on Saturday night.
The Pilgrims, who missed out on a League One play-off spot on the final day of last season, say the perpetrators started up a club tractor once inside the grounds and drove it over the playing surface.
A club statement said: “Having started the ignition with tools, the individuals proceeded to drive the tractor across the Home Park pitch, which is at an early and crucial stage of renovation ahead of the 2022-23 season, leaving significant damage.”
The Devon outfit are offering a reward for anyone who can assist with their enquiries.
