Gareth Southgate urges his England players to 'make history'

Having progressed to the knockout stage as group winners after beating Croatia and the Czech Republic and drawing with Scotland, England’s task is about to get significantly tougher when they line up against one of world football’s established leading lights, looking to secure a place in the quarter-finals against either Sweden or Ukraine.

England have only ever won one knockout match at the European Championships – the penalty shoot-out success against Spain at Euro 96 – and their last three knockout meetings with Germany at a major tournament all ended in defeat.

However, with a crowd of more than 40,000 set to roar his side on, Southgate has told his players they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create memories that will become part of the nation’s footballing psyche forever.

“Every time you pull an England shirt on, you have an opportunity to score a goal that will be shown forever,” he said. “And to create a bit of skill or be involved in a match that lives in the memory.

“That’s the beauty of playing for your country. If you think of all the big players in history, of course in club and European football there are significant memories, but when you picture those great players, it’s normally in an international shirt where their biggest memories are formed.

“That is the case when you pull on an England shirt. This is an opportunity that few get, and these lads have earned it. I’m sure they’re going to relish that.”

Southgate’s major selection decision tomorrow revolves around whether to add Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell to the squad following their period of enforced isolation after being deemed as ‘close contacts’ to Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, who tested positive for Covid.

Mount and Chilwell have been forced to train away from the rest of the England squad this week, and had to travel to London individually today rather than on the team coaches.

However, their isolation period ends at midnight and they are therefore available to be part of the squad. Mount started England’s opening two matches, and has long been one of Southgate’s key players.

“They’ve had individual training programmes this week, and the only sessions they’ve been able to join in have been where there’s not been full-team training,” said Southgate, who is set to stick with a flat back four, rather than switching to a back five in order to mirror Germany’s anticipated formation. “That’s the basis on which we’ve got to make the decision.

“As from midnight, they can be freely back with the group. It’s been complicated because there’s the physical preparation you would want for a game like this, but then there’s also the tactical training. In the meetings we’ve had, they’ve had to be in a separate room and dial in on Zoom.

“The whole experience for them, including travelling down, is very difficult, but they’re young players I think can get on with things pretty well.”

Southgate’s players have been practising taking penalties all week, with suggestions growing that goalkeeper Jordan Pickford could be selected as one of the first five penalty takers if the game finishes level after extra-time.

“There’s obviously a lot of football before that moment,” said Southgate. “First and foremost, we’ve got to get the 90 minutes right. But in that eventuality, the first thing is that Jordan is very, very good at stopping penalties and psychologically, for us, that’s very important.

“Most goalkeepers are good strikers of a ball. He’s done it before, and obviously everybody has been practising, that’s part of the process we go through.”