Euro 2024: Gareth Southgate opens up on job scrutiny, reveals Jude Bellingham leadership role

Gareth Southgate has opened up on feeling "more relaxed" amid the scrutiny around his position as England prepare to launch their bid to win Euro 2024.

Southgate's side take on Serbia on Sunday, with the England manager having seen all of his squad fit to train ahead of the encounter in Gelsenkirchen.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Southgate responded to questions surrounding his tenure as he seeks to take his men one step further than Euro 2020, where they lost on penalties in the final to Italy.

“I’ve been in the job for eight years so I understand the landscape," Southgate said.

“Everybody that’s been in the job has experienced the same thing.

"I just try to prepare the team in the best possible way and we're really looking forward to the beginning of the tournament."

On the chance of this being his last tournament in charge, he added: “I hate to put pressure on all the coaches, but it could be the last tournament for all of them. So this is the world we’re in.

“I’m probably more relaxed about it because I’ve been to three; I know exactly what it involves. I know the events you have to deal with, the path you have to navigate.

"I'm very fortunate to have great players with a great spirit and great staff that work with me.

"I'm determined to make sure we don't miss anything to give ourselves the very best opportunity."

The England boss also disclosed the make-up of his team’s new leadership group, which includes 20-year-old Jude Bellingham.

“We have a very open relationship with all the players,” said Southgate. “We’ve actually put together a small leadership group together for this tournament with Harry Kane, Kyle Walker, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.

“There’s a different dynamic to this group. There are a lot of younger players and I want to make sure that I’m really in touch with the voices of the younger players as well.

“I don’t want to leave here with any stone unturned."

On the first obstacle that awaits England in Gelsenkirchen, Southgate told the press conference that he anticipates Dragan Stojkovic’s Serbia side to play on the front foot.

He said: “It wouldn’t surprise me for Serbia to attack. They get numbers up the pitch quickly and they can break quickly.

“Of course, they can build up in a more patient way as well. So they have a nice mix to their game. But no, I don’t expect them to sit and defend at all.

“That wasn’t the way the coach played and I wouldn’t expect it to be the way he is as a coach.”

Serbia’s dangerous options include former Premier League stars Dusan Tadic and Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Southgate picked out the latter as one of their biggest threats.

Southgate said: “He really knows his craft. He knows the areas of the pitch that are particularly dangerous and he’s exceptional at pulling off defenders, taking chances, in the air, holding the play up.”

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