Don’t repeat mistakes of past, says Southgate

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 AmericansatMoscow’sSpartakStadium 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 invitesoverconfidence yetthedisappearance of potential opponents Germany andSpainfromEngland’ssectionhasled 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 abouttomakeaU-turnontheeveoftheir 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 havethechancetowritetheirownstories now.

“I want the players to continue to attack the tournament as we have. That shouldn’tchangeintheknockoutstage. If anythingweshouldfeelfreer. It’sgoingto 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 perspectivehonedbyhisowndisappointments 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 James Rodriguez could be fit to face England tonight, Colombia boss Jose Pekerman has said.

The 26-year-old, currently on loan at Bayern Munich from Real Madrid, provided a scare for his nation when he came off in the first half of their win over Senegal last Thursday due to a leg problem.

However, Pekerman has not ruled the 2014 World Cup golden boot winner out of the game and is remaining hopeful he will have some involvement in Moscow.

“We have had good news after his medical tests,” Pekerman said. 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 knockoutGermanyandSpain, theyhave 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.

England captain Harry Kane in fine spirits with team-mates during a training session in the Spartak Zelenogorsk Stadium.