England soccer boss Gareth Southgate insists his team will not be distracted from their preparations for the World Cup in Russia, despite the tensions between London and Moscow.
On Wednesday, the British government said it would kick out 23 Russian diplomats, the biggest such expulsion since the Cold War, over a chemical attack on a former Russian double agent in England that Prime Minister Theresa May blamed on Moscow.
May said no British ministers or members of the British royal family would attend the World Cup in Russia in June and July.
And while some UK politicians have called for a full boycott of the event, Southgate said he was simply concentrating on his job.
"As far as all my briefings and information is, we're preparing to go to the World Cup, there's no doubt in our mind that's what we should be doing," Southgate said on Thursday.
"We have important positions throughout our organisation where their priority is to deal with those issues and I've got to make sure I don't get distracted by things that are outside of my control, whether that's political or football.
"Clearly it's a really serious matter and it's developing very quickly. But my job as the England football manager is to concentrate on the football and prepare the team.
"And the only thing at this stage that is of highest importance is the safety and security of our players and absolutely of our travelling supporters. They're the things we're focused on really," he said.
Whatever pans out with Russia over the next three months, the current situation is certainly threatening to overshadow the tournament.
But Southgate added: "We don't know the timescales, we don't know any of the areas that might happen over the coming months .I will always be aware of what's going on in the world, but my focus has to be on the things I can control."
Southgate was speaking at the squad announcement for his month's friendly internationals against the Netherlands and Italy.
And he has recalled Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere who was last in the squad in November 2016, while his Gunners team-mate Danny Welbeck was also included.
Injured pair Harry Kane and Gary Cahill both missed out, but Southgate also picked four uncapped players; Burnley's Nick Pope and James Tarkowski, Alfie Mawson of Swansea and Lewis Cook of Bournemouth.
"Jack's a player with unquestionable talent," Southgate said of Wilshere.
"I have had to field lots of questions about him and the key for me now is he is playing the games that matter for Arsenal and playing well."
Liverpool's Jordan Henderson and Adam Lallana are also back in the squad after injuries.
England play the Netherlands in Amsterdam on March 24 before taking on Italy at Wembley on Tuesday March 27.
