England CAN expect with golden Gate at the helm

ANDROS TOWNSEND OUR EXPERT EYE ON QATAR

Andros Townsend joins the Daily Star today for the World Cup. The Everton forward will bring his experience as a current Premier League player and former member of Gareth Southgate's England squad to his insightful columns over the next few weeks.

ENGLAND fans should enjoy the World Cup ride Gareth Southgate is about to take the team on.

After a semi-final four years ago and the European Championship final last year, the England manager has become a victim of his own success.

The stakes have suddenly become higher because he has raised the bar.

But it's easy to forget the summer of 2021 when hopes were high. It's because of Gareth that England fans can have an expectation of living with the best.

He will have his own plan for how to get over the line in those tough games against the top teams like Croatia four years ago and Italy last year.

He has the players and they have the experience - both with their clubs and their country.