As my captain, Southgate led by example ‘In the modern era, Cup win would be bigger than 1966’

METICULOUS At Aston Villa, he always showed great interest in tactical side of things and had the ability to laugh at himself LONDON:

after Capello’s departure. Southgate, who served as the U-21 manager under Hodgson and Allardyce, was initially appointed as the interim manager following the latter’s exit in November 2016. He was ultimately rewarded with the full-time job after four games — England were unbeaten in those matches. Bobby Robson in 1990.

He will also become the first manager to lead England to the semi-final of a major international tournament since Euro 1996, where he had ironically, missed from the spot in England’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Germany. Drawn Lost Goals scored Conceded

Clean sheets Another striking feature of Southgate’s team — one that has undoubtedly worked for him — is his trust and harnessing of England’s young talent. The 47-year-old has handed debuts to 13 players in under two years and chose a World Cup squad that is one of the youngest at the tournament. He has brought the best out of Jordan Pickford, who has been outstanding between the sticks, and Harry Maguire, who has won more aerial duels than any other defender at the tournament.

would have been unthinkable in the past.

It definitely helps Gareth that he was the England U-21 boss and worked with players such as John Stones, Jesse Lingard, Harry Kane and even young Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the past. Loftus-Cheek’sinclusionwasini- tially criticised but as the tournament progressed, it became clear that Gareth wanted a group of players committed to play for the shirt irrespective of their role.

Modern-day international football is more about the collective so credit to Gareth for embracing that philosophy and not being pressured to pick ‘names’.

I feel Gareth has used his vast experience as England player to do the right thing with this group. That is where he seems to have scored over other England managers. I am referring to the manmanagement aspect more than any other detail.

Even if the lads don’t emulate 1966, it is beyond debate that Gareth and his team has given the country great joy in supporting the national team after a really long time.

England manager Gareth Southgate has no doubt that winning the 2018 World Cup would result in his players being revered even more than those who guided the country to their last success in 1966.

Southgate’s team have surpassed the expectations of most in Russia, reaching their first World Cup semi-final since 1990 despite the group being relatively inexperienced.

Of the 32 countries who began the tournament, only Nigeria and France have squads with a younger average age than England.

Yet, while some suggested prior to the World Cup that such a situation would be a hindrance, it has been anything but, and Southgate has been keen to get across that the players are on the precipice of untouchable status.

“We’ve talked, touched briefly, certainly, on the team which won (the World Cup in 1966), how they’re still held and revered,” Southgate told reporters.

“At the beginning we were working together with the lads and trying to sell them the vision of what’s possible, what we’re looking to achieve in the long term.

“We also feel we’ve had events on when we’ve been in camp when some of those guys [from the 1966 squad] have been in, when the road was named at St George’s (Park National Football Centre, England’s training base at home) after Sir Alf (Ramsey, the World Cup-winning coach in 1966).

“I’ve met quite a few of those players and we know exactly how they’re held and perhaps in the modern era that would be even crazier, (with) social media and everything else, the global thing is so much bigger.”

England face Croatia in their World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

We had a terrific manager in Alf Ramsey, who had a great system and he selected a team that could be successful and had good characters. We’ve seen the leadership with Gareth Southgate being very impressive, which has engendered a good team spirit. We’re a team with our diversity and youth that represents modern England and in England we’ve spent a bit of time being lost as to what our modern identity is, and I think as a team we represent that modern identity and hopefully people can connect with us. GARETH SOUTHGATE,

England manager MOSCOW: