MX23RW : Thursday, November 7 16:28:12| >> :120:4601:4601:

Gareth Southgate urges "calm" over coronavirus fears

Gareth Southgate urges
© Reuters
England manager confident the right decisions will be made ahead of internationals.

England manager Gareth Southgate insists everyone must remain "calm and sensible" as key decisions lie ahead concerning the coronavirus outbreak.

The Three Lions are due to welcome Denmark and Italy to Wembley for internationals later this month as they ramp up their preparations for Euro 2020.

However, the Covid-19 outbreak could yet scupper those plans, having already led to top-flight matches being postponed in Italy and the Swiss league being suspended until at least March 23.

Southgate said talks are ongoing concerning the matches, and is confident the right decisions will ultimately be taken.

"It's an ever developing story," he said.

"It's a sort of situation where everybody needs to be calm and make sensible decisions and we will always be guided by them.

"As we speak today everything is on and we are planning as normal but those circumstances could change if things deteriorate.

"It would depend on what's allowed to happen and what travel is allowed. We have people constantly looking at the situation and what is possible but I couldn't tell you if the games weren't played for whatever reason we would definitely do x, y or z."

Asked whether there was a prospect of playing the matches behind closed doors at Wembley, Southgate added: "As we stand I think we have to be adaptable and be prepared for every eventuality but we are following, like everybody else, government advice and trying not to get too worried by all the hype to make sensible decisions on hygiene and go from there.

"I'm old enough to have seen lots of these things in the past and it's very easy to over-react, but equally you have to be diligent and follow the right guidelines.

"We would never do anything in our lives if we all flap at the first sight of any problems so let's see how things emerge. It's obvious there are some serious implications for some people to have a situation like this, so it is important not to make light of it, but equally there's danger is everywhere in everyday life."

UEFA Nations League 2020/21 Draw – Amsterdam
Gareth Southgate is prepared for every eventuality (Adam Davy/PA)

Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy was equally calm and measured about the situation.

McCarthy, whose side are due to face Slovakia in a Euro 2020 play-off semi-final on March 26, said: "What I can do about it? Someone just said they didn't think I'd turn up as it's an unnecessary risk but I have just come through Gatwick Airport with thousands and thousands of people and life has to go on.

"I feel desperately sorry for all the people who may have contracted it but my life is carrying on. I'm not going to sit at home and worry about it."

ID:391723: cacheID:391723:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6548:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Aston Villa's Jack Grealish looks dejected after the match on March 1, 2020
Read Next:
Guilbert expects Villa teammate Grealish to join "big club"
>
Read more about Gareth Southgate Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!