Gareth Southgate commended Rico Lewis for an outstanding performance in his England debut, applauding the Manchester City youngster’s composure despite what he deemed a “harsh” penalty decision.
Southgate expressed satisfaction with Lewis’s abilities and resilience after the 19-year-old inadvertently conceded a penalty to NorthMacedonia in the first half. The VAR review determined Lewis had made contact with opponent Bojan Miovski’s face inside the penalty box.
Although North Macedonia took the lead with a penalty converted by Enis Bardhi, an own goal by Jani Atanasov allowed England to secure a point in the game.
Southgate, visibly upset over the decision, lauded Lewis’s overall performance, describing him as an excellent and composed footballer.
Lewis is expected to feature in Manchester City’s upcoming match against Liverpool, a pivotal clash between the reigning Premier League champions and their long-standing rivals.