Southgate: Winning is in England’s DNA

and the chance to avoid a possible quarter-final showdown with Brazil.

Southgate and Martinez are both expected to make wholesale changes, with one eye on the next round.

But the England boss insists sending out a team with no intention of winning is not in the English DNA.

He admits he feels uncomfortable with the suggestion that he would not want to win a third game on the spin and take even more confidence into the sudden death phase of Russia 2018.

Humiliating

Southgate says he has learned from Roy Hodgson’s fate at Euro 2016.

The then England boss made wholesale changes to the side for the final group game against Slovakia which finished goalless.

That meant the Three Lions finished second in the group to Wales and took on minnows Iceland in the last 16 in Nice.

But despite being hot favourites, they suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in the country’s history.

Southgate said: “For our country, that would be a very difficult mindset to have.

“We want to win every game we go into. I don’t know how we would go into a game not wanting to win and not wanting to play well.

“So I think that’s dangerous territory if we start trying to plot and predict where we might end up.

“We thought we had a really favourable draw in the last tournament and it didn’t work out that way. I think we just have to keep playing as well as we can, keep preparing the team the right way and keep the momentum.

“I have to keep the squad involved. That’s the one thing I think is really important.”

Southgate says an England team brimming with confidence can take on anyone in the knockout stages.

He added: “Over the last couple of years we’ve played all the top teams. We haven’t been able to beat any of these teams yet and who knows the level the likes of France, Brazil and Spain are capable of hitting.

“We also know the quality of the Belgium squad and the individuals they have. But we think we can be competitive in all those games, so let’s see.

“We are improving and I think the lads are gaining belief in what we are doing and confidence from their performances.

“I’ve said all along I don’t want to limit what they feel is possible, and that’s still how I feel.”

One issue Southgate is keen to keep tabs on is managing the physical and emotional levels of his stars and avoid them peaking too soon or suffering burn out.

He said: “I think the Panama game will have taken a lot out of everybody.

“And of course there’s a very short turnaround between the game against Belgium and the next round.

“We have to manage our energy. “We’re better placed to do that because we keep the ball longer but nevertheless, even though we dominated possession, you could see the players at the end – it’s taken a lot out of them.

“So yes, the physical part is something we have to manage well.”