‘Band of brothers’ ready to go into battle

Captain Kane rallies the troops as England have Sweden in their sights

Harry Kane is ready to go into battle with his brothers and fire England to their first World Cup semi-final in 28 years.

Fellow surprise package Sweden stand between Gareth Southgate’s men and a place in the last four in today’s hotly-anticipated quarter-final clash in Samara.

The country is dreaming of a third ever World Cup semi-final after England showed character and maturity that belied their inexperience to overcome Colombia on Tuesday evening.

The Three Lions ended their miserable penalty shoot-out record to progress to the quarter-finals, bringing this tight-knit squad even closer ahead of this huge occasion.

“We are just like family, really,” England captain Kane said.

“We’ve spent a lot of time together. We all get on very well.

“I spoke before the tournament about the togetherness, the trust and that, but we always wanted to prove it on the pitch and show on the pitch that we can do that.

“We have done that so far and that’s just made us even stronger.

“After that game the other night, just the joy in everyone’s face... we’d worked so hard to come through that. It makes us even more proud of each other.

“I look at them like my brothers and I know they look at me the same. We’d do anything for each other. That’s what we’ve got to do for the rest of the tournament.

“When you go through a battle like that and when you come through it gives you so much energy, so much belief to go and do it again. The feeling after is amazing.

“We’re hungry for more. We want that feeling. If it goes to extra-time and penalties, then we’ll be ready for that.

“If we can win in 90 minutes then great, but we’re ready to do whatever it takes.”

Kane’s confidence and hunger should not be mistaken for brashness, though, with the striker echoing manager Southgate’s warnings about a team that have often been awkward opposition.

Yet while England are the highestranked side in their half of the draw – and it must be tempting to look ahead to the tantalising prospect of a semi-final against Russia or Croatia and beyond – the Golden Boot leader’s feet are firmly on the ground.

“Hopefully I carry on scoring and we go far,” Kane said.

“We’re not really thinking about being world champions yet. We’ve still got a long way to go.

“If anything, this is the second half of the tournament now. This game tomorrow is going to be massive.

“We’ve done great up until now, but we look it’s another step we’ve got to overcome. Just looking forward to the challenge and getting out there.”

Kane will lead from the front against Sweden, fresh from becoming the first England player to score in six consecutive appearances since Tommy Lawton in 1939.

Already level with Gary Lineker’s Golden Boot-winning haul of six in 1986, the 24-year-old is focused on collective success rather than individual glory as he bids to make the nation proud.

“It’s massive,” he said of the scenes back home.

“Obviously after the games we all see the videos going around social media and everything.

“I said after the Tunisia game, I was one of them fans not too long ago and getting drink thrown over me and jumping about, going wild.

“It’s what we want. We set out to make the country proud and we feel like we’ve done that so far.

“We want to keep seeing them videos and hopefully we can do the same tomorrow and we’ll see a few more. That’s what it’s about.

“It’s about bringing the whole country together and to see them enjoying it as they are is fantastic for us.”

Meanwhile injury-doubt Jamie Vardy could not play a full part in training with his team-mates ahead of the game with Sweden.

The Leicester striker sustained a groin strain during the last-16 penalty shoot-out victory over Colombia, a problem that required an injection, and he was only able to join in with the warm-up for yesterday morning’s training session in Zelenogorsk.

Vardy, 31, then took part in his own recovery exercises.

The Football Association said every other member of Gareth Southgate’s squad was fit enough to train, including Fabian Delph following his return to Russia after his wife gave birth to their third child.

The England boss has allayed concerns over the fitness of Dele Alli, Ashley Young and Kyle Walker, but suggested as many as three players are in question heading into the match.

Sweden expect to have Albin Ekdal and Jimmy Durmaz available after injury, with former Birmingham, Sunderland and Hull midfielder Seb Larsson back from suspension.

Celtic’s Mikael Lustig will be missing after collecting two yellow cards.

Manager Janne Andersson was steeped in English football from a young age but sees a new style in Gareth Southgate’s squad.

“I grew up in the ’70s and we used to follow English football,” he said.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to face them as head coach of the Swedish team.”