England boss Gareth Southgate has claimed that his team has reconnected with supporters over the past few months.
The Three Lions face Colombia in the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday evening, seeking their first knockout-stage win in a major tournament since 2006.
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,” Southgate 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 from supporters.
“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 will seal a quarter-final meeting with either Sweden or Switzerland if they can overcome Colombia in Moscow.