WE’RE GONNA PARTY LIKE IT’S

Southgate recalls France 98 victory over Tunisia as one of the greatest days of his life and he wants another rousing win over them this summer

GARETH SOUTHGATE recalled “one of the greatest days of his life” – and will be just as proud when history repeats itself next summer.

Southgate played against Tunisia in England’s opening game of France 98 and enjoyed reliving how he felt playing for his country at a World Cup.

He helped Glenn Hoddle’s side win 2-0 with goals from Alan Shearer and Paul Scholes (right) and England will face Tunisia again in Volgograd on June 18 as the opening game of their campaign. The Three Lions boss could barely contain his delight after being given a favourable draw also including Panama, making their first appearance at a World Cup, while the last game is against Belgium.

“Tunisia takes me back to Marseille, one of the best days of my life, playing my first game in the World Cup finals for England, an incredible atmosphere down there, just the colour of it, the

Beatles music playing before the game,” said Southgate.

“It was a brilliant day. I remember sitting with Teddy Sheringham in doping control for an hour-and-a-half afterwards.

“A brilliant occasion, so to be leading the country out into that same occasion – the first game of the World Cup – I am hugely proud. Being here at the draw really takes you back to the pureness of football, the excitement everyone at home will be starting to feel of knowing what the games are going to be and where.

“It took me back to when I was a kid filling in the games and that excitement of being involved in a World Cup.

“It’s really exciting, now we know who we are playing and where we will play.”

You can almost feel the expectations building already and

All kick-offs in British Summer Time THE FINAL: 11-2 World Cup winner: 9-2 Germany; 5-1 Brazil; France; 7-1 Spain; 8-1 Argentina; 12-1 Belgium; 16-1 Portugal; England; 28-1 Colombia; 28-1 Croatia; 28-1 28-1 Uruguay; 40-1 Poland; 40-1 Russia; 66-1...