Southgate blasts poor standards

Southgate's comments will concern England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson

England defender Gareth Southgate has criticised the technique of the nation's international defenders.

Middlesbrough defender Southgate is one of England's most respected players and claims in a new book that coaching methods are not getting the best out of England's internationals.

The book, Woody and Nord, is a frank account co-written with his best friend and former Crystal Palace team-mate Andy Woodman.

In it, Southgate reveals: "As a kid, I thought the top of the game would be packed with unbelievable quality - now I work with international players who have poor technique and a lack of focus."

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will also be concerned at Southgate's appraisal of coaching techniques in the country.

"Time after time, Brazil mount a serious challenge at the World Cup finals. Are their lifestyles better than ours? I imagine they are. Are they better coached? Again, my feeling is they probably are."

As England players, we have to take greater responsibility for our physical fitness Gareth Southgate

Southgate claims that England defender Danny Mills, a team-mate at Middlesbrough this season, is walking proof of his theories.

"He has the pace and athleticism to be a very good defender if he gets the right coaching," Southgate claims.

But Southgate adds that the first responsibility lies with the players themselves.

He says: "As England players, we have to take greater responsibility for our physical fitness.

"I am thinking particularly of the young and talented English players, who, if they do not settle for more disciplined and professional lifestyles, are going to lose good career opportunities to foreign players."

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