England coach Gareth Southgate was delighted with his players after their 7-0 rout of North Macedonia.
Harry Kane (2), Bukayo Saka (3), Marcus Rashford and Kalvin Phillips struck for England in their Euro 2024 qualifier win.
Southgate said, "I think everything depends on the opposition and what status our players are in. Those three [Rashford, Kane, Saka] have had exceptional seasons with their clubs and we felt tonight it would be more transitional, there would be more space and the speed of Bukayo and Marcus would be decisive. But we have different options with Phil and Jack and others that aren't here. You need that competition. You're not always going to have virtually everybody available, as we did this time. But it's great to have those different options."
On his future as England manager, he also said: "It's a group of players and staff that's a privilege to lead and our performances since the World Cup have been impeccable. I think we're in a sweet spot where we were happy with what we did but we had a hunger because we weren't satisfied with where we got to.
"It was a tough year. If we think back a year to the result and the reception that got and then in September and the pressure that we felt. The different feeling around the team.
"But you have to go through those things and that's what brings you closer as a group. Nights like this are great and you enjoy it but they are possible because of what we have been through on other nights, That's part of being a team."
