GARETH SOUTHGATE wants to win the Euros “so much it hurts”.
But the England boss will not let the result of Sunday’s final in Berlin define him — like his Euro 96 penalty miss once did.
And Southgate will return home proud of what he has achieved in his eight-year reign.
He said: “In the end, winning and what that means completely changes how you’re going to be viewed.
“I want to win so much on Sunday it hurts, don’t get me wrong. But I can handle whatever comes and I know it’s not going to change what the dog thinks when I walk back through the door.
“The margins are so fine and there are bits you can affect, others you are not going to affect.
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“I would probably have felt differently about that three years ago, five years ago.
“But I’m in a different space now — and that’s a good thing because otherwise I’d have been in a mess these last five weeks.”
Southgate was eaten up for years because he missed the crucial penalty in the Euro 96 semi-final shootout against Germany.
But he will be comfortable in his own skin even if England are beaten by Spain, having led the team to back-to-back Euros finals, plus a World Cup semi and quarter-final.
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Southgate said: “As a player and an athlete you view those failures in a different sort of way.
“Had we gone out in the first knockout round here, I know I’ve managed this period better than I did in Russia.
England vs Spain record
England have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…
- May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)
- December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)
- May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)
- November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)
- May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)
- May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)
- March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)
- June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)
- March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)
- July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)
- February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)
- September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)
- February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)
- February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)
- September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)
- October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)
Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain.
“But that wouldn’t be how it was viewed and it would sound like nonsense to the man in the street.
“But I know the job now and I’m really clear on being my own biggest critic, reviewing everything clearly.
“So I know there is a body of work there and how we’ve worked with different groups of players to get the outcomes that we have.”
Greatest English sporting moments since 1966
- David Platt’s last-minute extra-time winner vs Belgium at Italia 90
- Paul Gascoigne’s wondergoal vs Scotland at Euro 96
- Jonny Wilkinson’s drop goal to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup
- Ashes victory over Australia in 2005
- Super Saturday at London 2012
- Ben Stokes’ heroics to win 2019 Cricket World Cup final
- Lionesses winning 2022 Women’s Euros at Wembley
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
