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World Cup 2018: Gareth Southgate coy over first-team selection after impressive win against Costa Rica

The Three Lions boss hinted the two friendlies and the build-up to Russia have given him food for thought

Thursday 07 June 2018 22:32 BST
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Gareth Southgate delighted with England's preparations ahead of World Cup

Gareth Southgate was coy when asked whether he knows his starting line-up for England's first World Cup game against Tunisia on June 18, saying: "I might sleep on it."

However, the Three Lions boss hinted the two friendlies, including Thursday's assured 2-0 win over Costa Rica, and the build-up to Russia have given him food for thought, saying: "I'm really pleased with the three weeks' preparation, we've given ourselves a really good platform. If it's complicated it, it's in a really good way.

"We know certain decisions we need to make, we need options, we seem to have got through the two games without any serious injuries and we've got to have players that can come in and change matches when we're out there, and chase games and be able to shut games down."

Southgate was particularly impressed by Rashford's display and said: "What pleased me most is that he enjoyed his football tonight.

“He played with a real swagger, he's a Man United player and got booed at the start and cheered off at the end so that tells you about his performance. I'm really pleased for him."

However, he sidestepped the question as to whether the forward has done enough to earn a starting berth for England's Group G campaign.

Southgate added: "We've got great competition for places in the team, I think we saw that tonight."

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