SOUTHGATE DARING TO DREAM BIG

GARETH SOUTHGATE has told his players on the eve of the World Cup: “Anything is possible.”

The Three Lions boss (top) has had that motto stitched into a tailor-made pair of trainers he was wearing around the England camp yesterday.

And the 52-year-old also issued a rallying cry ahead of England’s opening game with Iran today as he reminded the nation of how far his team have come and that they are determined to go one step further.

England have gone from European Championship flops in 2016 to reaching the World Cup semi-final four years ago – and they were only beaten on penalties in last year’s Euros final.

But Southgate says he wants to make the so-called ‘impossible job’ look possible by winning the World Cup in Qatar and then leave a lasting legacy of success.

Southgate said: “Maybe we’ve made the impossible just look possible, would be the analogy.

“Maybe we’ve made it look possible and it’s exciting for other people and I can understand that. We want England to be competitive for years to come and I believe that our academy system has got that.

“There are challenges within that because we’re back to 31 percent of the league being eligible for England and only four or five exports of a high level, so there are still some challenges for us in terms of development of players and opportunity for players.

“But we have also got some good players and we should be competitive for the next six, eight years with this group.”

Southgate also stressed that players should feel “special” and enjoy playing at the World Cup.

He added: “We remind ourselves of the privilege of being here and the uniqueness of it.

“Only 16 England teams have ever been to a World Cup.

“A lot of the staff and players are at their second. Raheem Sterling (inset) is at his third.

“You have to remind yourself of this moment in time. Tournament football is different.”