World Cup 2022: England 'have got credibility now', says manager Gareth Southgate

England are present established arsenic genuine contenders arsenic they hole to conscionable World Cup holders France, says manager Gareth Southgate.

But the sentiment of the Three Lions has changed since they reached the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the last of Euro 2020, says Southgate.

"I deliberation there's ever been a level of respect for England but I deliberation we've got credibility now," helium told the BBC.

"To get to a semi-final past a final, I deliberation the remainder of the satellite judge that England are competitory and they cognize that we person performed nether unit a batch much successful the past fewer years.

"When I question astir Europe and the satellite and conscionable shot people, there's decidedly a greater appreciation of what we've done."

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Under Sven-Goran Eriksson, England reached the quarter-finals astatine 3 consecutive tournaments betwixt 2002 and 2006.

Southgate took complaint successful 2016 and the Three Lions present person the accidental to scope a 3rd consecutive semi-final for the archetypal clip erstwhile they look France connected Saturday.

"Four years agone we could person talked good but we didn't person existent grounds of winning large matches and going done large nights unneurotic arsenic a group," helium added.

"I deliberation implicit this play of clip we've had truthful galore of those occasions that present there's little restitution with getting to the quarter-finals, there's much tendency to spell further and there's much grounds that we've travel done these nights well. I deliberation for immoderate squad that's an important portion of growing."

Southgate unsure whether Sterling volition feature

Raheem Sterling missed England's last-16 triumph implicit Senegal following a break-in astatine his household location successful Surrey.

The Chelsea forward, 28, flew backmost from Qatar connected Sunday but is expected to rejoin the squad successful Al Wakrah connected Friday truthful should beryllium disposable for enactment connected Saturday.

"I haven't had accidental to beryllium with him yet," said Southgate.

"We've spoken connected the telephone and I deliberation he's successful a amended spot successful that helium feels helium tin travel backmost successful and has had the clip helium needs to assistance his family. Whether he's going to person done capable to beryllium progressive successful the crippled is simply a antithetic matter.

"He's had 2 agelong flights and missed a batch of grooming with the squad - we're going into the level of crippled wherever you request to beryllium afloat connected it.

"It's large for america that we've got the enactment of having him backmost with us, that he's backmost with the group, but successful presumption of engagement for this game, that's a spot much complicated."

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