Gareth Southgate cites ‘total control’ of Poland for stubborn England tactics

 

• England manager defends choice not to make a substitution
• Southgate unable to shed light on Glik’s and Maguire’s row

Gareth Southgate defended his decision to not make any substitutions after England conceded a last-minute equaliser in their World Cup qualifier against Poland on Wednesday night.

England looked poised to require another big stride towards Qatar after going 1-0 up because of Harry Kane, but they still have work to try to to after a feisty evening in Warsaw led to frustration. Poland were jubilant after Damian Szymanski maintained their qualification hopes with a stoppage‑time header and Southgate was left to face questions over his reluctance to shower his side by making changes during the dying stages.

“We were in total control of the game and to bring players into that moment when everyone was performing to an honest level and that we were on top of things of possession, you'll put players into the sport who’ve had to take a seat within the stand and it’s not very easy to return in in those latter stages,” the britain manager said.

“There were a few of moments we checked out it and said: ‘No, we’re doing well, no problem.’ We were getting to refresh the wide players right at the top but that would’ve been to wind the clock down quite anything, but before we could get them in we conceded and it wasn’t an honest time to form a change.”

Southgate was unable to shed any light on the row that led to England’s Harry Maguire and therefore the Poland centre‑back, Kamil Glik, both learning yellow cards after the half-time whistle. There was surprise that the VAR didn't become involved when Glik seemed to pinch Kyle Walker’s neck. England reported the incident to the match delegates and therefore the FA said it's up to Fifa to research .

England remain top of Group I despite Szymanski’s goal ending their perfect record in qualifying. they're four points above Albania, but Southgate was disappointed at the late slip. “We knew that, if we could win, then we were just about in Qatar,” he said. “We could’ve been in a good stronger position, in order that may be a disappointment.”

The England coach also hinted at frustration with a number of the officiating. “I don’t know what the tally was but i assumed the three forwards for us were fouled tons ,” he said.

“Sometimes once you give an early yellow card, meaning that the defender can’t make further challenges, or subsequent one’s a red, and both of these things may need been possible. i used to be a touch surprised sometimes but it’s gone.”