We kept a cool head and didn’t get into the brawl they wanted
lot. When I got over to him he said he wished he had the chance to play with me and Harry Maguire and we said likewise.
“It was a really nice moment. He wished us all the best and wants us to go all the way and to hear that from someone like him kind of hits home where you are, what position you are in and what chance you have to affect things.”
Before seeing Hoddle, Stones had gone to fans who were still in the stadium an hour after the final whistle and joined the party.
He said: “It kind of hits home that I was once a fan – I still am a fan – and went to games. They come all this way and want to see the team win, which we did. We gave them that joy and gave them those smiles on their faces and we wanted to live that with them.
“We wanted to sing the songs we don’t usually get the chance to, we wanted to enjoy that moment when it was there.”
While Stones is aware of and fully respects the threat posed by the well-organised Swedes he believes there is more to come from England.
He said: “We demand more from ourselves, that’s the exciting thing about us, wanting to learn and improve.
“Knowing where we can improve is what’s going to take us through the tournament.”
Meanwhile, Kyle Walker says living out his World Cup dreams tops everything else he has achieved in his career.
After ending his first season at Man City with the Premier League title the 28-year-old is on the verge of reaching a World Cup semi-final.
He said: “It has been a fantastic year for me, to achieve the things I have achieved – but this is the top thing I want.
“The Premier League is done now and I’ve ticked that off but to do something for your country and for your nation blows everything out of the water. You work all season with your club to get sat in this seat but to represent your country, there’s nothing better.
“Seeing the reaction from the people at home and stuff like that – shops are closing in Sheffield to go and watch the game! It’s crazy.
“You half want to be there to join in with the atmosphere but I am glad I am here.”
Walker cramped up near the end of extra time against Colombia but is ready to go again.
He said “I feel back to normal and ready to play the biggest game of my career.”
JOHN STONES