ENGLAND GOING ALL OUT FOR VICTORY
GERMAN EXIT UNDERLINES NEED TO MAINTAIN ENGLAND BELIEF AND MOMENTUM TONIGHT
England boss Gareth Southgate insists Germany’s shock World Cup exit underlines why he will not attempt to plot an easier route against Belgium tonight.
The anticipation for the Kaliningrad clash (7pm kickoff ) has tapered off somewhat after the Three Lions’ 6-1 win over Panama ensured their progress to the last-16, alongside the Red Devils, with a game to spare.
The managers will make changes for the Group G encounter in a bid to keep key men fresh, despite the fact England and Belgium are currently level in terms of points, goal difference and goals scored.
Roberto Martinez’s Belgians reportedly favour finishing runners-up given the seemingly preferable route to the final, but there is no such talk from Southgate.
“We think that we need to keep winning football matches,” he said when asked about his approach, two years to the day since the humiliating Euro 2016 exit to Iceland.
“We want to breed a mentality that everybody in our squad wants to constantly win.
“We’ve not won a knockout game since 2006. Why we are starting to plot which would be a better venue for our semi-final is beyond me, really.
“We have no idea who, when or where we will play in the next round, but we’re pleased that we’re in the next round.
“But, first and foremost, I think it’s really important that we’re building a team that I think everybody at home can see are passionate to play for England, want to win every time they go out, and are improving all the time.
“I think we’ll see that again tomorrow and I am really looking forward to seeing us play again.”
Southgate, surprised by Germany’s struggles, believes that the result shows that “anyone is vulnerable on any given day” as England look to win all three World Cup group games for just the second time.
Asked if the Germany result underlines the madness of attempting to plot their own route, Southgate said: “You can’t take anything for granted. The margins are so fine within the matches.
“We’re watching Argentina last night, we were watching Portugal and Spain the evening before – one decision at one end of the pitch, and a decision within two minutes – the situation in the group changed completely.
“That’s what’s brilliant about tournaments. That’s what makes them so exciting – that you just don’t know what is going to happen.
“Even before today, we were saying there’s been some great games but all the top teams have got through. Well, actually now they haven’t.”