Fans pessimistic about Three Lions' chances

Manager Gareth Southgate

Supporters remain pessimistic after England failed to get out of a difficult World Cup group in 2014 and then suffered the embarrassment of Euro 2016 elimination by Iceland, so it is perhaps understandable that so few Three Lions fans are getting excited about their unbeaten qualifying campaign.

Some excellent young players are performing to a high standard in the Champions League, notably Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling and John Stones, and that should allow for optimism that England can at least compete in the latter stages of the competition.

However, manager Gareth Southgate has questions to answer over his ability, first-choice keeper Joe Hart has been below-par for a couple of seasons and the mainly dour performances under the former Middlesbrough boss have been attributed to a lack of midfield inspiration.

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