World Cup 2018: Gareth Southgate hails ‘best day in coaching’ and insists England are not yet the finished article

Southgate expressed his pride at the way England’s success was uniting the nation, and his hope that it could be a turning point in the way English football is regarded

Gareth Southgate says England are still not the finished article, despite defeating Sweden 2-0 to reach their first men’s World Cup semi-final in 32 years. England will play Russia or Croatia in Moscow on Wednesday with the knowledge that they are just 90 minutes from their first World Cup final since 1966, and on a day he described as his “best in coaching”, Southgate said England still had room for improvement.

“We know where we are,” Southgate said in his press conference in Samara. “We’re not the finished article. We don’t have renowned world-class players yet, but good young players who are showing on a world stage that they can be brave with the ball, try to play the right way, show some mental resilience. We know that, in years to come, they’ll be stronger. But today was a huge opportunity for us. Not something we wanted to miss out on.”

Southgate expressed his pride at the way England’s success was uniting the nation, and his hope that it could be a turning point in the way English football is regarded. “We are privileged to be out here representing our country,” he said. “The chance to connect everyone through football and make a difference. I imagine there’ll be party going on at home now. Not for us, tonight!

“The more remarkable thing is that we’re in a semi-final, but we only have 33 per cent of the league to pick from. Hopefully – with what our junior teams are doing as well – this will be a sign to all clubs, at home and abroad, that English players have super technique.”

Gareth Southgate has led England to the World Cup semi-finals (PA)

England are the youngest team left in Russia, with an average age of 26, yet will have to raise their level again to win the tournament. They are yet to beat a side ranked in the top 15 of the Fifa world rankings, but Southgate was delighted with the way England managed to control the game against Sweden despite going through a gruelling 120 minutes and penalties against Colombia on Tuesday night.

“We played an opponent whose identity is clear, and whose togetherness has been too much for us to handle at times over the years. To have gone to the depth emotionally and physically in midweek, and control the game and withstand the physical test, was a sign of resilience of a young team who are maturing in front of our eyes.”