World Cup 2018: England ready to put on a show and continue new feel-good belief in Russia, says Gareth Southgate

A relaxed build-up to the World Cup has Gareth Southgate believing his squad are in a good place to reward their fans' belief in them

Gareth Southgate believes England can use their smooth preparation to their advantage at the World Cup (Getty)

Gareth Southgate says England want to put on a show at the World Cup, and make people happy, ahead of the squad flying to Russia to start the campaign. While the manager would not be drawn on what would constitute a successful competition in terms of where they finish, he said one of the main concerns was that the positive vibe continues.

Southgate did note that this has been a hugely positive build-up, and it has been free of both the overblown hype and undercutting controversies that used to instantly create complications for England in the past, and feels this team is helping build bridges with the public. The 47-year-old feels the style of football will be key to this, and wants to maintain the adventure shown in the build-up wins over Nigeria and Costa Rica.

“We are seeing that this is a team who is enjoying each other’s company, getting on well, are very proud to represent their nation, have some talent, have a real desire and determination to play for England and are determined to play in a style that people are warming to and are enjoying watching,” Southgate said. “We ask people to pay a lot of money to watch football. In the end, we want to entertain where we possibly can.

“I’ve talked before about there being a disconnect between the supporters and the team and I’ve felt that there’s different ways to bridge that and the most important is the way you play, and your performances and your results. We know everything else comes on the back of that.”

Asked what the country can expect from the competition, given no one is talking about going and winning it, Southgate said: “Well, of course I keep being asked the question and I keep finding different ways to answer it. Our focus as a team has to be on the bits we can control. Constantly trying to improve, playing in a style that we’ve used in the last year or so and that people have warmed to and, of course, if we do all of those things and we play with a smile on our face and we enjoy our football, enjoy being in a tournament then I think we will get results so ultimately we know we’ll be judged on results but we have to focus on the processes. We hope we can send people to work the following day having enjoyed those matches, I know what those tournament experiences can be like and we desperately want to bring that.

“What people have seen is the way we want to play and we definitely want to be an intelligent team in terms of tactical approach and dealing with different stakes and stages in games. The style is clear: we’ve selected players who can use the ball and the level of training is incredibly high at the moment, I have to say. It’s a great challenge for every player to come in. All the players right throughout the team can use the ball well so when we are defending [against] pressing it’s very difficult to win the ball back. That’s a very good sign that the level of the players is very high.”

Southgate noted a change in the public attitude towards the side when he started to bring through young players last year, with that coinciding with England’s success at under-17 and under-20 level.

Southgate believes England's success at youth level has helped ahead of the World Cup (REX)

“I think there was a shift in November when we brought in some of the younger players. There was a clear shift in the identity of the team, we went to a back three and people have been warmed by that, not only the young players in this squad, but the young players in the system, the success with the junior teams. The under-17s World Cup win in particular came at a moment where the profile of our young players was really high. We are just trying to improve every day we work together. We know we are not the finished article, in fact we’re a long way from, but I think people see signs of progress and enjoy watching us and the manner in which we try to play.”

Southgate also reflected on his personal pride at leading England to the World Cup, having appeared at the competition as a player in 1998.

The England manager will take pride in leading his country to a World Cup (Getty)

“Well, I’m very proud, there’s no question about that. I’m a very proud Englishman and I’ve said before that to play for my country was my only goal as a kid so now to be managing and leading my country to a World Cup is an extra special moment. I recognise the responsibility that brings but also I’m enjoying that challenge.

“I think we’re all looking forward to getting on with the tournament now, there’s been such a long preparation. We’ve had weeks now together with a really good training camp and really pleased with the performances in the two games and we just want to get out to the tournament now, get out to Russia and experience all the feeling of being in a World Cup in that host country.”