England boss Gareth Southgate says his team have reconnected with supporters and created a fresh air of excitement as they prepare to meet Colombia in the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday.
Southgate contrasted England’s previously uncomfortable relationship with their fans with the goodwill and optimism fuelling their attempt to reach the quarter-finals in Russia.
“The players have been able to change perceptions of how an England team might play,” he told the World Cup Daily podcast.
“We mustn’t lose sight of that.
“Ten months ago we qualified for the World Cup by beating Slovenia and people were throwing paper aeroplanes on to the pitch at Wembley. We were driving back to our hotel after beating Malta with some obscene chants being thrown at us by supporters.”
Southgate added: “I feel like we’ve started to connect the team with the public again. I feel like we’ve created excitement like we’ve played in a style that has really shown an expression of what young English players are capable of, and I want us to continue doing that.”
England has a pathway opening in front of them, with a quarter-final meeting with either Sweden or Switzerland if they can overcome Colombia in Moscow.
They beat Tunisia 2-1 and Panama 6-1 before losing 1-0 to Belgium to finish second in Group G.
Southgate has great confidence in his squad, saying: “I really believe in the group of players we have got. They are young. They are inexperienced.
“For some of them, this will be one of the biggest games they’ll have been involved in – but maybe not the biggest. We’ve always got to keep that in context for the players.”
Southgate, meanwhile, has given his backing to Jordan Pickford as England’s first-choice goalkeeper after the Everton player received some criticism for his display in the loss to Belgium.
The 24-year-old has yet to keep a clean sheet in three games in Russia, but he retains Southgate’s full support.
“I’m really pleased with his performances,” the manager said. “He knows the belief I have in him.
“He is an important fit for the way we want to play. I don’t think he’s had much chance with the goals that have gone in. That can be a goalkeeper’s lot at times.
“But he has to make sure he knows the views of those who are important and, like everyone else, cut himself away from the outside views that can start to inhibit your thinking.”