After England’s dramatic victory over Slovakia in the Round of 16, manager Gareth Southgate praised his team for channeling the spirit of the 1966 FIFA World Cup champions.
“Before the game, we showed the players footage from the 1966 England team’s World Cup campaign and how Jeff Hurst came on in the quarter-finals. They saw the challenges that squad faced,” he said.
“The players have been prepared, they’re well-drilled, and everyone who’s played has contributed to goals and stability. We want to improve, and I’m not shying away from that, but our mentality and character are evident, and we keep fighting.”
“By showing them the ’66 matches, I wanted to emphasize that the journey to win a trophy is a difficult one, with unfamiliar obstacles along the way.”
“Teams don’t always have it easy, and I know there will be criticism, some of which is justified. But I want to highlight the value of the team, with many players taking on different roles and supporting each other.”
“We still have a long way to go. We’re into the quarter-finals and facing a top-quality team. It’s entirely understandable that there will still be questions about us. But some of our qualities are carrying us through, and we won’t underestimate ourselves.”
“I’m incredibly proud of the unity and leadership shown by the players, both on and off the pitch at the base. That’s crucial for us.”
Gareth Southgate: England have summoned spirit of ’66 World Cup winners, fully understands external skepticism. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/gareth-southgate-england-have-summoned-spirit-of-66-world-cup-winners-fully-understands-external-skepticism.html
