Drab draw fails to dampen Southgate's England optimism

SKOPJE, Republic of North Macedonia — Gareth Southgate insists England's lackluster finish to the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign will mean nothing when it starts its bid to win the tournament in Germany.

Such are the expectations that Southgate is working under these days that qualifying with an unbeaten record from a potentially tricky group including Italy and Ukraine earned him few plaudits.

Being held to a 1-1 draw by North Macedonia on Monday meant England failed to beat a side as low as 66th in the FIFA rankings for the first time since 2016, when it drew with Slovenia.