The Sun Newspaper

GARETH SOUTHGATE reckons England’s players can become football legends today — by lifting the whole nation with a famous win over Germany.The Three Lions are aiming to win only their second-ever knockout game at the Euros to reach the quarter-finals against their old rivals.
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Gareth Southgate reckons England’s players can become football legends todayCredit: Getty
England captain Harry Kane in training as he awaits his first goal of Euro 2020Credit: Getty
Southgate said: “Every time you pull an England shirt on you have the opportunity to score a goal that will be shown forever and to create a bit of skill or be involved in a match that lives on in the memory.
“That’s the beauty of playing for your country.
“If you think of all the big players in history, there are significant memories in club football, European football.
“But when you picture those great players, it’s normally in an international shirt that their biggest memories are formed.
“That is the case every time you pull on an England shirt. It is an opportunity that few get and these lads have earned it.
“I’m sure they are going to relish that. These sorts of landmarks are always opportunities.
“They have got an opportunity to go beyond where some incredible players and fantastic servants of England have gone before.
“And that is always an opportunity to be grasped.”
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A win against Germany today would arguably be England’s biggest victory since 1966.
And boss Gareth Southgate says he has actively embraced the horrible history of English tournament failures to inspire his young team to potential glory.
Take a look through England’s victories in knockout matches since Sir Alf Ramsey’s men ruled the world 55 years ago and the list is relatively brief and unimpressive.
Paraguay, Belgium, Cameroon, Spain, Denmark, Ecuador, Colombia and Sweden — and the Belgians were not a significant force when Bobby Robson’s side defeated them at Italia 90.
World Cup quarter-final wins over Cameroon and the Swedes could be seen as more significant but to defeat a major footballing nation in a knockout match is something England have done only once since Bobby Moore lifted the Jules Rimet trophy.
That win against Spain, on penalties in 1996, was England’s only ever knockout success at the Euros.

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Raheem Sterling pictured with Jude BellinghamCredit: Getty
And Southgate admitted: “That’s an incredible record, really. It’s something we’ve talked about a lot as a team for the last four years.
“This team has that opportunity. In previous eras we have always talked about the past, teams and their records and baggage, and everything else.
“And there’s no reason for these boys to feel that way.
“Most weren’t born when a lot of those games happened. It’s an irrelevance for them, so I think we’re all looking forward to this game — a big opponent with excellent pedigree and great experience.”
Southgate is adamant he will not be giving a Churchillian speech today, especially as he is unsure whether his team know much about Sir Winston Churchill.
He said: “Churchill would be another figure that probably doesn’t figure highly on the players’ radar!
“You always have to give the right messages and give the players the right belief.
England boss Gareth Southgate watches on in trainingCredit: The Sun
Manchester City’s Phil Foden is set to return the starting line-up against GermanyCredit: The Sun
“But for myself, you always have to be authentic as a leader.
“It’s pointless trying to be something you’re not and put on an act, as players smell that a million miles off.
“The best managers I played for were themselves. They didn’t try to be someone they weren’t.”
When Germany were confirmed as England’s next opponents, after a chaotic finale to their ‘Group of Death’ last Wednesday, Southgate went back to his room and watched all three of their group games back-to-back.
Yet he insists he sleeps soundly before even the biggest matches. The England head coach said: “I sleep well the night before a game because the work is done.
“But in the days before that you want as much information as you can and your head is spinning with ideas so you can be awake at different hours.
“Sometimes I sleep, then wake up in the night, then I’ll go and watch something for an hour or two, go back and have another couple of hours’ sleep. That’s pretty normal for me.”
Gareth Southgate missed England’s penalty at Euro 96Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Gareth Southgate after his infamous penalty missCredit: PA:Press Association
Southgate, as we are all tired of hearing, was part of all that bad history when he missed a spot-kick in the semi-final shootout defeat by the Germans at Euro 96.
Yet he claims even victory this evening would not make up for that nightmare — because he can never make it up to his team-mates from Terry Venables’ squad.
The former defender added: “I always want to win matches, give the country excitement, enjoyment and a warm feeling when they go to work the next morning.
“That’s the opportunity we’re blessed with. But I can’t give closure on what’s happened in the past because I can’t give closure to the team-mates I played with.
“OK, I’ve got an opportunity to do something now but the team-mates I’ve played with are the ones I think about the most for that fixture.
“So I can’t do that, that’s something I have to accept. I wouldn’t want to claim I can heal everything for everybody else.”
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WE’VE come a long way since the last competitive meeting between England and Germany 11 years ago.Most people remember that humiliating 4-1 defeat in Bloemfontein at the 2010 World Cup for Frank Lampard’s ‘ghost goal’ which was chalked off despite being two yards over the line.
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Germany outclassed England in their World Cup meeting in 2010 as they eased to a 4-1 winCredit: Reuters
England finished top of their group at Euro 2020 after picking up seven points from three gamesCredit: AP
But my keenest memory of that miserable Sunday afternoon was a conversation a few of us had with Joe Cole, perhaps the most technically gifted player of England’s ‘golden generation’, who had failed to start a game at that tournament.
It is fascinating to look back at Cole’s searingly honest words to remind us that, whatever the result of Tuesday’s Euros last-16 clash, English football is no longer the embarrassment it was then.
This current England team are so well-schooled and comfortable on the ball that Pep Guardiola is keen on signing most of them.
That was categorically not the case back in 2010, when Fabio Capello’s men were comprehensively out-thought and outclassed by a German side — orchestrated by Mesut Ozil — who would go on to be world champions four years later.
Back then, Cole told us: “It is obvious that we lack the qualities you need to be successful at international level. We don’t keep the ball as well as other countries.
“Over the course of the tournament we looked a long way behind the other top nations and when it came to the crunch, the best side won.
“People will talk about the decision not to allow Frank’s goal but it was plain and simple to see that we just weren’t good enough.
“Almost every team I have played for — including England — always want to hit the front players as early as possible.

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England face Germany at Wembley in the last-16 on Tuesday in front of 45,000 fansCredit: AP
Germany secured their place in the knockout stages after drawing 2-2 against HungaryCredit: AFP
“You won’t get away with that at international level. It’s about technique, keeping control of the ball, passing and moving.
“We seem to abandon good technique because we are obsessed with getting the ball from back to front as quickly as possible. That doesn’t work against top teams.
“No one pulls the England shirt on with more pride than me but we’ve got to face up to the reality of it all. We’re just not good enough.
“Maybe it’s time to really look at how we’re teaching kids to play.”
Cole never played for England again after he spoke those words. Aged 28, and after 56 caps, he was abandoned.
Yet the FA were on exactly the same page as him — and English football has enjoyed an age of tactical enlightenment since then.
England’s age-group teams have been drilled in possession football.
They won the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups and they no longer rely on empty talk of ‘passion’ and bulldog spirit.

Gareth Southgate famously missed his deciding spot-kick in the semi-final penalty shootout defeat against Germany at Euro 1996Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
If England are beaten by Germany, nobody will be echoing Cole’s words from 11 years ago.
Gareth Southgate will have no such excuses. There will be no talk of systemic failure and none of those ‘root-and-branch’ reviews we were always promised in the post-mortem of another tournament debacle.
England are capable of beating Germany now. They go into this one as equals, with home advantage making them narrow favourites.
If Southgate’s men lose, it may be because the manager or his players weren’t brave enough, because of individual mistakes, because of misfortune. But not because they simply aren’t good enough.
England are nothing like a rigid 4-4-2, route-one team of 2010.
And English footballers are no longer habitually embarrassed by technically superior opponents who often seemed to be playing an entirely different game.
You only need to ask Manchester City boss Guardiola, the high priest of football purism, about that.
Back in 2010, Guardiola was reaching his peak as Barcelona manager and, Lampard aside, there weren’t any Englishmen being linked with moves to the Nou Camp.

Yet last month, Guardiola named John Stones, Kyle Walker, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden in his starting line-up for the Champions League final.
And in the last week, City have reportedly made bids for Harry Kane, Jack Grealish and Reece James.
Guardiola wouldn’t say no to Mason Mount, Declan Rice or Jude Bellingham either, because they are all good enough to play for City.
Even keeper Jordan Pickford is capable of Edersonian passes.
And Guardiola was also furious when City failed to match Manchester United in a bidding war to land Harry Maguire two years ago.
If English players are trusted, and coveted, to such an extent, we have made huge strides since Cole’s gloomy state-of-the-nation address in 2010.
England may lose to Germany again today but there will be no excuse for being played off the park.
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FABRICE MUAMBA hopes his remarkable recovery from a terrifying heart ordeal provides inspiration for Christian Eriksen.Former Bolton midfielder Muamba’s heart stopped for an incredible 78 minutes after he collapsed during an FA Cup match at Tottenham nine years ago.
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Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in the opening week of Euro 2020Credit: Reuters
Fabrice Muamba, who suffered a similar collapse nine years ago, has told the Dane that his life can restart after the collapseCredit: AFP
And the nightmare memories came flooding back when he saw Denmark star Eriksen suffer a similar cardiac arrest in their first Euro 2020 match against Finland.
He has since contacted Eriksen to assure him there is no reason he cannot make a full recovery and has offered to share his experiences to “help him deal with the trauma he has suffered”.
Muamba, 33, never played football again but says he leads a “normal life”, while he also became a father for the fourth time seven months ago.
He now works for the PFA as a player liaison delegate and was watching the Denmark-Finland match on TV when Eriksen, 29, suddenly fell to the turf.
The former England Under-21 international commented: “I just had a sick, empty feeling in the bottom of my stomach when it happened, because it was obvious he was going through the same thing as me.
“The worst part was seeing his wife on the pitch while he was being treated by the doctors and medics. It made me think about how my father was in the stands watching the game when I suffered my heart attack.

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I had what is basically a mini-defibrillator fitted. Sometimes it gives me a little shock if I am overdoing things.Fabrice Muamba
“He had to rush down to be in the ambulance with me, although of course I never knew about that until afterwards.
“I sent Christian a message on WhatsApp wishing him a full and speedy recovery and saying I am available to speak about my experiences any time he wants to reach out to me.
“I was advised not to play football again because of the stress it placed on my heart. But I hope Christian’s problem is not so bad and that he will be given the all-clear to play.
“It took me a long time to come to terms with not playing and I still miss it — at 33, I think I could still be playing if this hadn’t happened to me.
“But otherwise I can lead a normal life. I had what is basically a  mini-defibrillator fitted and I have check-ups every three months.
“Sometimes it gives me a little shock if I am overdoing things — about once every nine months or so — but otherwise you just get used to it.”
Christian Eriksen has thanked fans for their support since his collapse
Muamba was speaking at the opening of Venturi Cardiology, a specialist heart clinic in Warrington, and said standards of care have improved enormously since his collapse.
He added: “If there was something good to come out of what happened to me, it is the fact there are so many more defibrillators around and trained medical staff. That can make all the difference.
“I see from my work with the PFA that the care at the top end of the game is brilliant now and we saw that with how quickly the medical team was there to help Christian.
“And it is good to see the Premier League is making millions available to provide more defibrillators at lower levels.
“I would like to see one at every match, as well as people trained in CPR — learning that was one of the first things I did when I got better, because that can save lives, too.”
Muamba is now one of the millions of football fans who are rooting for Denmark to continue their stirring progress in the Euros.

He explained: “I think they are everyone’s second favourite team now and it is great to see them playing such amazing football. I am sure Christian will be enjoying that.
“But if Denmark face England in the semi-finals it will be hard to keep supporting them, especially as someone who wore the three lions.
“Although maybe that would be a win-win situation. We’ll see.”
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GERMANY have been hit by a major fitness scare which has left Joachim Low fearing he will be without THREE of his key players to face England.Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan is a doubt after feeling dizzy in training and the Germans are now fearing a non-coronavirus bug is sweeping through the squad.
Antonio Rudiger and Ilkay Gundogan are both doubts to face EnglandCredit: Getty
Toni Rudiger has been unable to train since the 2-2 group stage draw with Hungary because of an infection, and yesterday defender Robin Gosens was struck down too.
And boss Low admits he will not know until late on Tuesday if any of the trio – who have all played a major role in the tournament so far – will be fit to play.
Low said the day before the game: “Ilkay, he suffered this cranial bruise.
“He felt a little bit better today, the day before he still felt a little dizzy, especially in in training.
“Today he did a good job of 30 minutes. So we have to decide. The other two, they caught a cold, they haven’t felt so well, not powerful.
“We took some blood samples and they have infections. Maybe it gets better in one day, maybe they get up tomorrow and feel well and ready.

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“But maybe on the other hand, it can get worse overnight so we have to wait until tomorrow. I don’t know if all these three players will be at our disposal, I can’t say that, but we will have other solutions.”
Germany will join England in taking the knee before kick-off, while Harry Kane will follow counterpart Manuel Neuer’s lead by wearing a rainbow captain’s armband.
Keeper Neuer said: “We have heard, as everyone knows during Euros, that we have had the captains band with the rainbow colours. I have worn it and Harry Kane wants to do the same.
“We are in favour of taking the knee. It is great to take the same position as England, so we didn’t really need to even talk about it.”
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SWEDEN boss Janne Andersson has revealed his wife has given him a dressing down over his late substitutions.But he is sticking to his guns – and is ready to use his side’s height advantage to give the Ukrainians an aerial bombardment.
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Sweden boss Janne Andersson has revealed his wife has been unhappy with his subsCredit: Getty
Having surprised all by finishing top of a group that included Spain and Poland, the Swedes are loving life in the knock-out stages.
It is the first time Sweden have made the Last 16 of the Euros since 1992 – where they managed to reach the semi-finals.
And the Yellow Army are favourites to progress to the quarters against a struggling Ukraine outfit, but there is no pleasing some people – including Andersson’s wife Ulrika.

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Andersson said: “My wife likes to say that I make my substitutions too late but you are allowed to think what you like.
“My principle is the starting XI should have the chance to do their jobs. It will only be a certain circumstance that I will make early subs.
“The players we have subbed on have done really well and it is a relief to have that option off the bench.
“Maybe she doesn’t fully understand how I like to coach the team.”
My wife likes to say that I make my substitutions too late but you are allowed to think what you likeJanne Andersson
Away from the criticism, Andersson is so confident in his tactics to beat Andriy Shevchenko’s Ukraine side that he is open to reveal his master plan – the height advantage.
Sweden have SEVEN players in their squad who are 6ft3 and taller – and four of them started their last group game victory over Poland.
Ukraine on the other hand have just TWO players who of a similar height or bigger – and one of those is keeper Heorhiy Bushchan.
Yet Sweden surprisingly are yet to score from a header so far this tournament.

Andersson is ready to unleash his giants on the Euros to rectify this, and could even start more of his stretchy Swedes in tomorrow’s clash.
He said: “We have a height advantage so we want to take advantage of that. We haven’t been able to score as many as we would like from set pieces.
“We have been working through them in training, and I am happy with my set piece takers as they are both fantastic. I hope we get our rewards.”
Having played two of their three home games in Russia, Sweden have now had to travel to Scotland to play at Hampden Park for their Last 16 tie.
And with the majority of Swedish fans unable to attend, Andersson raged: “It is really weird and strange that they decide to host the game where our supporters are not allowed to join.

“It is the same for Ukraine too. In my view it is the wrong decision from UEFA.”
Sweden midfielder Sebastian Larsson added: “I have tried three times to get to the Last 16 of the Euros and this is the first time.
“We are not going to get as many Swedish fans as we would like to mark the moment and that is strange.”
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