England have to pick themselves up again to face Belgium here in the third/fourth play-off and manager Southgate said: “It’s the chance to have our second-best ever finish and the chance for the players to get a medal.
“There’s that and there’s the pride in playing for your country again.”
FIFA award 50 bronze medals to the team that finishes third, while the losers of the wooden spoon game – as England were in 1990 when they lost 2-1 to Italy – go home empty-handed for all their efforts.
Tiredness and injuries will necessitate a number of changes and Southgate said: “It will be more the physical capabilities of the team that dictates selection.
“Kieran Trippier is the obvious one because he’s had to come off during the (Croatia) game and the same with Ashley Young. Jordan Henderson is also feeling his hamstring so we will just have to assess it.”
No Kane conspiracy
Harry Kane also looked tired in Wednesday’s semi-final but despite conspiracy theories supported by Gary Neville, among others, Southgate denied categorically that the skipper has had any sort of injury during the tournament even if the chance of him going out to cement his Golden Boot award hangs in the balance.
“I don’t know if he will play, we will see how he is after tonight,” he said.
“He’s got another 120 minutes against Croatia and I don’t know the full injury update.”
The England manager went back out into the Luzhniki Stadium nearly an hour after the semi-final to acknowledge the fans who waited behind to show their appreciation of the efforts put in by the Three Lions, despite failing to prevent Croatia from coming from behind to book their place in Sunday’s World Cup final against France.
Players want to impress for England
Ahead of the tournament, Southgate had played down the squad’s chances after dismal performances in the last two major tournaments.
But going forward into the inaugural European Nation’s League matches in the autumn against Croatia, again, and Spain, at least Southgate feels his players can look forward to representing the country in competitive fixtures.
“The desire and hunger of the players will be there to do it,” he said. “It’s great for them, as they may have had a feeling that playing for England was always misery and regret and recrimination.
“Now I think they’ve seen that it can be enjoyable; the whole experience can be enjoyable for everybody.
“The spirit of the group, going forward, will recognise what they’ve had over this period and what they’ve built.
“Some of that was there when I took over, because it wasn’t a group that was disconnected. But it’s even tighter and stronger now and has more belief in the way they play based on the results and the landmarks they’ve reached. So we have to build on that and I’m sure we can.”
Danny Rose backing
Danny Rose, 28, endorsed that view after coming on as a substitute at left back for Ashley Young late in the semi-final.
“I am looking forward to going to the Euros and hopefully going to another World Cup as this experience has been amazing,” he said. “That scene at the end was very emotional and I cannot believe I am looking forward to putting an English shirt on again.
“A few years ago, I did not see that happening and I am not going to lie. It was not enjoyable considering whether we won or lost we’d still get battered.
“However, it has changed over a period of six weeks. I want to get back playing week-in week-out and want to get playing for England again.
“I’d like to thank the manager and his coaching staff, what he has done here. We have a lot of means, outside the pitch, on how to change people’s perceptions. To have a bond with the media and the fans. We have managed to turn a corner.”