GARETH SOUTHGATE is convinced his form for Middlesbrough has been good enough to warrant a place in England's European Championships squad.

The reliable centre-back's chances of making the trip to Portugal this summer were boosted last week with the confirmation that Rio Ferdinand will still be banned when the tournament comes around.

National team coach Sven-Goran Eriksson seems likely to name Chelsea's John Terry and Arsenal's Sol Campbell as his first choice pairing at the heart of the defence.

Southgate is confident that his consistent displays for Boro this season should help him to be selected as the experienced back-up to that London-based pair.

"Regardless of who is available, I have just got to play as well as possible between now and the end of the season," said Southgate, who is battling with Matthew Upson, Ledley King, Wes Brown and Jonathan Woodgate for the remaining places.

"I feel I have played very well this year so I don't think I have got anything to prove. I have been part of the manager's plans for the last couple of months. I had to miss a couple of games through injury but I have just got to try to stay in there.

"You have to feel for Rio because nobody wants to see a player miss a tournament for any reason. Unfortunately, that will be a factor as people are going to ask the question about Rio. But it is out of our control. Whoever goes will go on merit compared with those who are available.

"With Rio unavailable it creates an extra space. But I am hoping to play well enough this season to have booked a seat on the plane anyway."

Upson and Southgate went head-to-head at the Riverside on Saturday in an eight-goal game both the Boro and Birmingham defences will want to forget.

Individually the Boro skipper enjoyed a more productive day - scoring on his 600th League and cup appearance.

Upson was at fault for a couple of goals and was humiliated when his slip in the 90th minute allowed Szilard Nemeth to nip in and complete the victory.

Southgate, who was Upson's partner when he had a disappointing game for his country at the Riverside against Slovakia last year, said: "My defence may only have let in three whereas Matthew's let in five, but I don't think anybody would want to be judged on this performance.

"Ironically, I scored but it seems like a week ago because so much went on. Experience tells me not to analyse that game too much.

"I feel sorry for him for his part in the last goal - it summed the afternoon up. But some days you have to be honest and admit you have not been at your best. At least we won.

"None of the decisions about Euro 2004 will be made about what has happened in one game or three games. The manager will have in his mind what he wants to do and obviously I hope my experience will be a factor.

"I did not get a chance to talk to Matthew but everybody just wants to forget that game. There are some games in your career which you try to forget and I almost took the kit home to wash because it felt like it was a Sunday League match. I'll have to get here early next week to put the nets up!"

Despite securing their second successive home win, Southgate wants to forget about the action-packed clash with Birmingham.

But he hailed Mark Schwarzer for the way he restricted the Blues to three goals.

"Our goalkeeper kept us in the game and you can think of any score you like and it could have been that at the end of 90 minutes," said Southgate.

"We were always just ahead but I think most of us would just like to consign that one to history. The points were very important but we are not particularly pleased with the way we played defensively."

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