Southgate filled with belief as he tells Three Lions to live the dream
GARETH SOUTHGATE has told his players they are standing on the brink of history – and urged them to take the final steps to greatness.
They are just one game away from a World Cup Final, reaching the last four for the first time since 1990 with the best chance of winning it since 1966.
England’s Italia 90 semi-finalists are still regarded as heroes south of the border despite their glorious failure after losing to Germany.
The current generation have again reached that pivotal moment but boss Southgate insists they are not ready for it to end in defeat against Croatia on Wednesday night.
He said: “They know what they want to do. They know they stand on a moment of history and they’re desperate to do as well as they possibly can.
“They don’t need any motivation. It’s all there, it’s all apparent and we’ve just got to prepare them as well as we can.
“We have to move on but the players are focused. They recognise the opportunity they have. We said before this game, these opportunities might never come again.
“We’re just enjoying the journey, that has definitely helped us, everything we’ve done has been based on enjoyment, how far can we go? Let’s push the boundaries, let’s create our own history and they are continuing to do that all of the time.”
It was Gazza’s tears in 1990 and now it’s Southgate’s celebrations which might just prove to be the most iconic pictures from England’s scrapbook.
The usually mild-mannered 47-year-old became a wild-eyed, crazed monster after Saturday’s win over the Swedes – fist pumping while screaming in celebration in front of the fans.
Just imagine what he’ll be like if England actually win it.
Long after the final whistle in Samara, Southgate came back out onto the pitch BY JOHN CROSS to act as conductor to lead the fans’ chants. Days in the life of an England manager do not get any better.
England were expected to beat Sweden and did exactly that.
Keeper Jordan Pickford had to make three smart saves but the truth is the Swedes were effectively a free pass by quarter-final standards.
Croatia are much better but have just played two lots of extra time and penalties back-to-back.
The Three Lions will never have a better opportunity and Southgate is determined to drink in every drop.
He said: “My life in football has been a rollercoaster of emotions and I have experienced enough in my career to know that days like Saturday you have to enjoy and cherish but you know how quickly it can change. “The fans have paid a lot, come a long way, it means a lot to be able to connect with them. I’d love to be able to do it with the millions watching at home. “The supporters who are here, they’re singing and I know what they’ve been through. I met lots of them, they told me their stories, how many years they’ve been travelling, watching England, what it means to them. “I only played for three clubs (Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough). I have a real affinity with all three but England has been the biggest part of my life. To manage the team to this point, having also played in a semi, is special. “I’ve looked at the history, more so as the years have gone by, and it’s an incredibly proud moment. I’m privileged.” players and we know exactly how they’re held and perhaps in the modern era that would be even crazier, social media and everything, the global thing is so much bigger.”
Southgate’s side take on Croatia in Moscow on Wednesday for a place in Sunday’s final in the Luzhniki Stadium.
But Croatian legend Davor Suker has branded England fortunate to still be in the World Cup.
The former striker, part of the side that reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1998, said: “Colombia had two chances to score to lead in the penalty shoot-out, so England were lucky.
“But why lucky? Because they invested in a lot of forwards, that’s what I liked about England at that moment.”