Gareth Southgate rates England Under-21s raft-building challenge

12 October 2015 03:01

Boss Gareth Southgate believes England's Under-21s are ready to dive in at the deep end after their rafting experience.

They host Kazakhstan in Coventry on Tuesday after a bonding session at outdoor activity centre Go Ape near Chester last week.

England are aiming to extend their 100 per cent record in their Euro 2017 qualifying campaign and Southgate believes their unique session will help them at the Ricoh Arena.

He said: "We did some raft building, it was something different, it was good for them to get away from here and get some good experiences and it throws up all sorts of leadership experiences. You get an understanding of why a team works and why it doesn't.

"It was something a bit different but not without a purpose, it wasn't just a jolly - there was some thought process behind it.

"It was a nice way to start the week and also with a new group, to get them together in a different environment, get them talking and it was helpful in terms of the training as well.

"I was wringing wet, like everyone else, by the end of it."

Sheffield Wednesday keeper Joe Wildsmith has replaced the injured Angus Gunn but all of the squad trained at St George's Park on Monday.

England won their opening Group Nine game 1-0 in Norway last month and play their third match at the Ricoh Arena having beaten Germany 1-0 in 2006 and Macedonia 6-3 in 2009.

But Southgate insisted Tuesday's qualifier is unlikely to be another goal feast.

He added: "I would be delighted but very surprised. They are very well organised with the threat on the counter attack. The name isn't synonymous with high-level international football but their performances are improving."

Source: PA