Euro 2016 flops out to show how far they’ve come

Craig Swan

CHANGE is in the air with England.

Gareth Southgate’s men arrive at Hampden tomorrow with the responsibility of altering their recent history.

Spending the build up to tomorrow’s World Cup crunch down south has been enlightening.

There is a general consensus in Scotland that we care about this game more than England.

Sure, the opportunity for the English broadcast media to speak with Marcus Rashford brought more questions about Manchester United and Jose Mourinho than it did about Scotland and Gordon Strachan but the vibe amongst the squad is that it matters. A lot.

Listening to Harry Kane told you it matters. The hurt from Euro 2016 is still there.

Since the farce in France, Roy Hodgson may have passed the managerial torch to Sam Allardyce, who in turn got his fingers burned, leaving it for Southgate to pick up but the wounds are still open.

A lack of passion was the accusation from outside of the game. A lack of leadership and men taking responsibility in key moments was the accusation from within.

But Southgate is addressing it. The trip organised for the squad to see the Royal Marines in Devon wasn’t about running up hills but about putting the players in adverse situations.

Asking them to cope out of their comfort zones. Asking boys who struggle to go under water to swim through tunnels. Those who live in mansions to build tents. Take a lead. Do it yourself.

England have sailed the group so far but Southgate knows Hampden will offer a first real test of mettle in a hostile environment and he wants to see change.

He wants to see them stand tall and to respond on the Hampden pitch if it looks like going wrong.

For bodies to grow taller and stronger, not to shrink and look for the nearest advertising board to hide under.

Off the pitch, the FA also want to see a recent trend bucked. There are strong messages down south about the recent poor behaviour of the England supporters.

The Stone Island brigade are starting to let the country down again. Shaven heads, muppets with tattooed teeth spouting bile.

England’s visit to Germany for the friendly in March was a breaking point. An FA report slaughtered the actions of a few. Life bans were handed out to a couple for Nazi salutes.

There was songs about German bombers being brought down by RAF planes with accompanying arm gestures. Drunkenness around the streets of Frankfurt. Poor form.

Over 100 of their own fans reported the louts to the FA and the chiefs have responded.

The 4,000 fans who are heading for Hampden have been well warned. They will be met with heightened security in Glasgow and can only pick up their tickets when they get here.

They are looking for fans to come up with the right response. The coaching staff are looking for change, too, and want to see it at Hampden. OUR TOP WRITERS GIVE THEIR FEARLESS VERDICTS EVERY DAY IN RECORD SPORT 1962: DAVIE WILSON AND ERIC CALDOW THE HEROES... 1964:

England have sailed the group so far but Hampden will provide a real test