World Cup 2018: Gareth Southgate desperate to bring home medal for England fans as Three Lions prepare for play-off with Belgium
Southgate said: 'We want to finish with a medal at a World Cup... I think we owe it as much to ourselves as to our nation to finish well'
GARETH SOUTHGATE is urging England to head home with a medal of honour — for the fans.
The Three Lions face Belgium in a play-off for third this afternoon — and he will field his strongest team possible.
Boss Southgate, whose side have already lost to Belgium in the group stage, said: “We have high motivation.
“We want to finish with a medal at a World Cup, which only one English team have ever done.
“We’d like to redress things having lost to Belgium once before already, too.
“I think we owe it as much to ourselves as to our nation to finish well.
“Belgium will be as hungry as we are to end the tournament well.
“It will be a good test for us. We’ve not been able to beat these top teams yet, so have to take every chance to do that.”
Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph said: “Vincent Kompany is my club captain so I don’t want to lose to him.
“It’s so important to go home with a medal. I know it’s not a winners’ one — but it’s still a medal and we can be proud of that.
“It’s been a fantastic tournament and we don’t want to finish on a low.”
Injuries will affect team selection after they agonisingly lost 2-1 in extra-time to Croatia in Wednesday’s semi-final.
Southgate, who will fly back with the squad tomorrow, added: “We have to decide who can go again.
“Everyone wants to play and we want to make as few changes as possible.
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“But Ashley Young had a bit of illness going into the last game.
“Jesse Lingard we have to check on.
“Kieran Trippier is an obvious one with muscular injuries from the semi.”