England boss Gareth Southgate insists his aim is to make Three Lions best team in the world
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Gareth Southgate has claimed his long term ambition is to make England the best team in the world.
Three Lions boss Southgate says he can take inspiration from England's rugby heroes winning the World Cup in 2003.
Southgate believes his team is better than their current place of 13th in the FIFA rankings but admits his lofty target will be a tall order after the disastrous Euros campaign.
In an interview with Sky, Southgate said: "We are currently ranked 13th in the world. Respectfully in the last two tournaments we went out in the group stage and then the first knockout stage, and we are at a moment where we have 30 per cent of English players playing in the Premier League.
"So there are a lot of obstacles. But our long-term target is to become the No 1 team in the world. I always look at the England rugby team that won the World Cup in 2003, and they went into that tournament as the number one team.
(Photo: Getty Images)
(Photo: Michael Regan - The FA)
"They had to go from fifth to first, we have to go from 13th to first. I'm not 100 per cent certain how long that takes, but we have to keep continuously improving all the time."
Southgate also made it clear he would be willing to go into battle for Manchester United starlet Marcus Rashford in a potential club versus country row at the end of the season.
Former under-21s boss Southgate has always tried to persuade young players to gain tournament but the prospect of Rashford going back down to the under-21s for next summer's Championships is unlikely to please United.
Plus there is the dilemma of whether players should go back to the u-21s.
Southgate added: "I'm tempted to say that I will pinch all their best players and leave them to get on with it. We made good strides with Roy in terms of our dialogue around when players would move up and when they would go back down to the U21s," Southgate said.
"The advantage I have over Roy is that I know all those players really well and that gives me a bit more of an insight as to exactly where they are.
"If I looked at a young player who we believe will have a future with the senior team, you would want him to have tournament experience and Marcus doesn't really have that yet at any of our age groups.
"For his overall and international development, that would be a good thing.
Again I have to balance that with how many games he plays for Man United, because he's still physically developing at his age and we have to make sure that call is correct.
"I think he's aware that is part of the plan, but those decisions will have to be finalised come April or May."