SPRING ON BELGIANS

Fans urged: ‘Go crazy for Lions’

JESSE Lingard last night called on fans to go “crazy” for England tonight.

The Man United star revealed that video footage of supporters’ wild celebrations over their two victories was driving the players on towards World Cup glory.

Lingard, 25, said the players were virtually cut off from the outside world inside their training camp.

But watching internet clips of celebrations back home had increased their determination to go all out to win the tournament.

More than 21million excited viewers tuned in to watch England’s opening 2-1 win against Tunisia – the biggest television audience in the UK for the past seven years.

And around 17m watched the 6-1 drubbing of Panama which saw them qualify for the knockout stage with a game to spare.

Up to 21m are expected to tune into tonight’s clash with Belgium which will determine which of the two teams tops Group G.

Fans are expected to sup 34m pints of ale over the next 24 hours in a £160m bonanza.

Lingard, who won a penalty and scored a wonder goal in the win against Panama, urged Three Lions fans to go “mad” for it.

Speaking from inside England’s World Cup headquarters, he said: “It is crazy because here we are out of the way. We don’t really know too much about what’s going on.

“So to see the clips back home…it’s mad, it’s mad.

That is what we need to drive us through the competition. They need to keep doing that for us.’’

Lingard said that England were determined to beat Belgium and top Group G – even though as runnersup they could face a potentially easier route to the final.

He said: “I think this is a test to see how far we can go.

“England and Belgium are both through so we don’t know what kind of game it’s going to be.

“But for us, we obviously want to win the game. That’s the main thing. “We are going to be 100% ready.’’ Manager Gareth Southgate added that an England victory was vital because he wants to instil a winning mentality in his team.

“We want to win the game,’’ he said. “That would mean we top the group and go into whatever game we go into.

“We are trying to develop a winning mentality. It would not be true to what we have been trying to achieve if we did otherwise.

“I cannot imagine in any circumstances sitting down with my players and telling them to do anything other than go out and win.’’

The Star Says: Page 6