Southgate seeks win as England gain momentum

Macdara Ferris reports from Kaliningrad

It is isn’t quite a dead rubber in Group G on Thursday evening between England and Belgium with both teams having already made the knock out stages. It also isn’t merely about bragging rights either with momentum on the England manager’s mind and a golden boot on Harry Kane’s radar. 

Gareth Southgate speaking at the pre-match press conference on the eve of the game spoke not just about keeping up momentum after his team’s superb start to the tournament but also about keeping the positive vibes around the squad going.

That means he will be bringing new players into his starting line-up and he confirmed that Spurs midfielder Eric Dier will start with Danny Rose expected to come into the team while Kane should keep his place.

Having said that it seems likely that Southgate will pick a stronger team than his counterpart Robert Martinez for the match taking place on the Baltic Sea coast in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad.

“Momentum shifts during the space of 90 minutes,” said Southgate. “It isn’t just about where you are in the tournament. Positivity is a better phrase in what we want to continue with. 

“We are consistently performing well in the last nine or ten games. We need to keep winning football matches and breed a mentality that everyone in the squad wants to constantly win.

“Key for me is that players are ready to come in tomorrow and beyond that. They can get match minutes and sharpness against good quality opposition.”

As the different groups finalise, the route for teams to the final is being plotted by supporters and pundits alike but not by the England manager. His country have only won six knock out matches since they won the tournament in 1966. There last knock out win came against Ecador in the Japan/Korea World Cup.

“We haven’t won a knock out game since 2006 so why we need to plot the best semi-final is beyond me!



“We are really pleased with how we have played. We are still a team who need to improve and will face tough challenges. We can’t consider ourselves a top team until we beat those top teams. 

“We have no idea who, when or where we will play in the next round, but we're pleased that we are there.”

Southgate came into speak to the press just as Germany were about to be eliminated. Media mobile phones streaming the South Korean win over Germany were quickly turned off as he entered the room!

He was asked about Germany’s early exit and noted his surprise particularly after their strong performance with a youthful side in last year’s Confederation Cup. 

“There is no opportunity to rest where you are as a team or to stop the constant improvement. It shows that everyone is venerable on any given day. You can’t take anything for granted. 

“The margin in the matches are so fine. Argentina, Portugal and Spain – one decision at one end of the pitch and the situation in the group changed completely. That’s what makes tournaments so exciting. You don’t know what is going to happen. That is what attracts people to the World Cups.” 



    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile