Gareth Southgate planning for England return in September as he emphasises powers of international football

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Gareth Southgate says England are currently still planning to be playing matches in September and has urged people to not forget international football’s ability to unite the country.

Due to the outbreak of coronavirus, England have not played a match since November last year, when they beat Kosovo 4-0 in their final European Championship qualifier in Pristina.

The Three Lions had been due to play Euro 2020 warm-up friendlies against Italy and Denmark in March, but those fixtures, along with the tournament itself, were not able to take place as scheduled.

Domestic football is now resuming in Europe and is due to return in England later this month with the respective Premier League and Championship restarts, but international fixtures are not currently scheduled to return until September.

That could become a complicated issue given the congested football calendar, but Southgate says he is still planning for a September return until told otherwise.

“At the moment, the Uefa meeting I was in on was geared around September, October, November going ahead,” he said.

“There are the realities of how quickly everyone can emerge from the virus and the lockdown, and whether it is feasible and practical for players to travel around the world and go and represent their countries when they have just got back into their clubs. But every couple of weeks, that looks more optimistic.

“At the moment, we have to work on that basis. I know there is another Uefa meeting in about ten days when we should have more clarity on a few of those issues. We plan for September but we don’t think that’s a given by any stretch of the imagination.

“I am more optimistic now than I was probably six weeks ago in that it feels as though the combatting of the virus across Europe and across the world is advancing in a good direction and every couple of weeks the landscape appears to change enormously.

But Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate is planning for the return of international football in September
AFP via Getty Images

“There was certainly a period when I didn't think there was going to be anything before Christmas. But the Bundesliga set a good path to show what was possible and now it feels more acceptable for football to come back in our country.”

Given the excitement around the return of the Premier League, the lack of international football this summer has almost been forgotten. Southgate, however, believes people should remember its importance and the power it has when it comes to uniting a nation.

“With international football, you are right, there are still a lot of unknowns. You have got international travel in that mix. You've got the start dates of the various leagues,” he added.

“But also we must be the only sport where internationals are perceived in some areas as less important. I don't get that.

"If I am an athlete or a player - in the last few months I have seen a lot of interviews and players showing their caps as one of the most important things in their lives - to represent your country in a sport is still the pinnacle.

“I understand the league is hugely popular and massively tribal. You will get people saying: ‘Forget England, I just want my club to come back’.

“But we are the only ones to bring 24-30million people together around an event and that has the opportunity to unite an at times divided landscape. So I do believe it is important it happens.”

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