Gareth Southgate’s FIFA World Cup™ playing experiences are about as challenging as they come. Making his global finals debut against Tunisia at France 1998, he went on to miss games through injury, come on as a substitute in a huge knockout match in which he experienced extra time and a penalty shootout defeat before heading to Korea/Japan in 2002 and spending the tournament as an unused substitute.

You might say, therefore, that he is perfectly placed to manage a squad of players who are likely to face plenty of their own challenges in a few months’ time. Having taken the job in November 2016 as England’s third manager in a matter of months, Southgate steered his nation to Russia 2018 with an unbeaten qualifying campaign, finishing top of Europe’s Group F. 

A twist of fate at the Final Draw means Southgate will make his World Cup coaching debut against Tunisia, with Panama and Belgium their other Group G opponents. The former defender, who appeared 57 times for his country, spoke exclusively to FIFA.com as his preparations for Russia entered their final stages.