England boss Gareth Southgate has praised the resilience and togetherness of his Three Lions squad after their impressive 2-0 victory over Sweden in the World Cup quarter-final last Sunday.
Although England ‘keeper Jordan Pickford was named man of the match after pulling off three crucial top class saves, Southgate’s men were the better team from start to finish and fully deserved to seal just the third semi-final appearance in their Country’s history.
England will now face Croatia on Wednesday night in the Luzhniki Stadium, and Southgate revealed that it is the unity of not just his starting XI but the entire Three Lions squad that has resulted in this inexperienced group performing so well in Russia this summer.
“We knew it was going to be such a different game from the other night, to come back having had extra-time and penalties, with the emotions of it to lift ourselves through a completely different test,” he told the BBC.
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“It was always a scrappy game where we had to withstand a lot of physical pressure, but the resilience of the team and togetherness of the team was crucial.
“I cant speak highly enough of the whole squad and whole group of staff because it is so united in there.
“The level of work has been great and their commitment to each other, you don’t get through with just 11 players. They are all top people and are the reason we are in the semi-final just as much as any other.”
Whoever emerges victorious on Wednesday night will face the winner of the Belgium and France fixture in the World Cup final next Sunday in Moscow.