England boss aims to copy German template for success

But Southgate admits Three Lions are years behind world champions

Gareth Southgate
(Image credit: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images)

So much for the stereotype of the humourless German. On the eve of tonight’s friendly against the Three Lions at Wembley, Germany coach Joachim Low demonstrated his wit by describing his hosts as “the strongest England team in years”.

Then again Low said it with a straight-face so perhaps he was being serious. In which case did he see England lose to Iceland in last year’s European Championships? Did he watch their embarrassingly early exit from the 2014 World Cup? Has he tuned in to any of their games recently, like last month’s mind-numbingly tedious 1-0 victory over Slovenia.

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