The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Belgium celebrate Nacer Chadli’s late winner in last night’s 3-2 victory over Japan in the World Cup last-16 clash in Rostov.
England boss calls on Three Lions to ‘write their own stories’ at World Cup
Gareth Southgate is confident England will not repeat past mistakes by looking beyond their last-16 clash with Colombia, but he accepts the World Cup draw represents a chance for his players to “write their own stories”.
Southgate’s men take on the South Americans at Moscow’s Spartak Stadium tonight well backed and in good spirits but without a knockout victory at a major tournament since 2006.
That is hardly the kind of record that invites overconfidence yet the disappearance of potential opponents Germany and Spain from England’s section has led to fevered speculation about just how far the Three Lions can go in Russia.
Southgate has made a point of encouraging a seam of optimism in a youthful side showing fewer battle scars than previous England squads and was not about to make a U-turn on the eve of their biggest test to date.
“For this team, it’s a brilliant opportunity to go beyond where more experienced teams have gone before. They’re relishing that chance,” he said.
“You want to be involved in this type of match, the games that matter. The lads have the chance to write their own stories now.
“I want the players to continue to attack the tournament as we have. That shouldn’t change in the knockout stage. If anything we should feel freer. It’s going to be a fantastic evening.
“You always have to have aims and ambitions, dreams and goals. That’s important. At a World Cup, we’re in the business of bringing hope and excitement to a whole nation. That’s a privileged position to be in.”
England, then, have licence to believe. What they do not have, as long as Southgate is in place to bring a sense of perspective honed by his own disappointments on national duty, is a superiority complex.
“We’ve been in this position before, many times over the last however many years,” he added as questions turned to the seemingly inviting route ahead.
“It’s pointless us even thinking about what might happen after this game. We focus on the game, on our performance, and everything will fall into place from there.
“Maybe the teams who aren’t here weren’t as strong this time. If teams knock out Germany and Spain, they have to be respected.
“What we sense in this group is an excitement. An understanding that it’s pointless looking beyond tomorrow, and that was a trap we’ve fallen into in the past.”
There appears to be little guesswork involved in the England XI, with few of the understudies who lost 1-0 against Belgium last week making a compelling case.
Indeed, England are highly likely to revert to the team which started the tournament against Tunisia in Volgograd.
That means Ruben Loftus-Cheek dropping out and a return for Dele Alli, who injured his thigh in that game and has not been seen since.
Raheem Sterling is also likely to take his place in support of the tournament’s leading scorer, Harry Kane.