Gareth Southgate is urging this new crop of Three Lions to seize the opportunity to make history in Wednesday’s Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.
Southgate admitted to BBC Radio 5 Live the memory of the heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat in the final of Euro 2020 against Italy at Wembley three years ago ‘will be fuel’ for some of his players.
“We have also got a lot of players who weren’t with us and we are trying to make a bit more history with them,” he added.
“One of the things human beings want to avoid is public embarrassment” 👀
Gareth Southgate on the opportunity @England have to make history 💭🏆#Euro2024 | #NEDENG | @gabrielclarke05 pic.twitter.com/kumwzm2JwT
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 9, 2024
“We have never been to a final outside of our own shores. This is a chance for this team to make more history and each tournament we have been to, there have been slight differences to the team and evolution of the team.
“Definitely this time with the squad, for a lot of them, this is their first experience. They don’t need to worry about the past as much, but of course those who came so close last time are really, really keen to put that right.”
England and the Netherlands have played out some pulsating games down the years, not least England’s 4-1 win at Wembley in Euro 96, and Southgate said: “This is why we are in the game.
“This is why you are involved in international football, these huge matches, big events. It’s going to be a fantastic atmosphere; both sets of supporters obviously bring a lot of noise and colour.
“These are two outstanding football nations, so we are very much looking forward to the game.”
Southgate has a clean bill of health, though he has yet to make a decision over whether to start fit-again Luke Shaw and which of Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa will line-up alongside John Stones in defence.
