Rising to the Challenge: How Gareth Southgate’s 1966 World Cup Inspired England’s Dramatic Round-of-16 Win Over Slovakia

England’s dramatic 2-1 win over Slovakia in the round-of-16 was made possible by a video of the 1966 World Cup-winning campaign, according to Gareth Southgate. The video showed how every member of the squad played a crucial role in achieving success, and Southgate credited it for inspiring his team to come back from behind and eventually secure victory.

After falling behind early on, England fought back with Jude Bellingham’s sensational overhead kick that forced extra time. Harry Kane’s header in the additional period secured the victory and a spot in the quarter-finals against Switzerland in Dusseldorf. Southgate praised the players who came off the bench and made significant contributions to the win, emphasizing the importance of squad depth in a tournament.

Southgate referenced the 1966 team’s challenging journey to glory, pointing out that not every player was a starter from the beginning. He stressed that the current squad needs to be ready to perform when called upon, just like the substitutes did in the game against Slovakia. The spirit and commitment shown by the players were key factors in their success, and Southgate wants to continue emphasizing their value as they progress in the tournament.

By showing players historical moments like the 1966 triumph, Southgate hopes to instill a sense of perspective and appreciation for what it takes to achieve success in a major tournament. He believes that recognizing every player’s contributions will help create a winning team mentality that can carry them through any challenges ahead.