KEIR RADNEDGE in BERLIN: England manager Gareth Southgate believes it is the small margins which will be crucial in tomorrow’s UEFA Euro final against favourites Spain in Berlin.

England have improved immeasurably in the knockout stage after an unimpressive group showing in pursuit of the opportunity to make amends for three years ago at Wembley when they lost the final on penalties to Italy.

Southgate said: “We’re fully committed and have fabulous opportunity to achieve what we set out to do from the moment we left the World Cup in Qatar earlier than we’d have liked.

“We haven’t had too much time on the training pitch over the last couple of days but we’ve had several meetings trying to assess the opponents. Our messages haven’t changed during the last six weeks. We’ve had a long term vision, we have good experience of big matches and players don’t need motivating for a game like this.

“Fine margins can decide these games and we have to make sure we are on the right side of them. Spain have a clear way of playing, a settled team, they press with intensity, they keep possession exceptionally well but we’ve also kept the ball really well.

“In the last few matches we’ve been showing our real selves. I thought we played very well against Netherlands so that’s our intention again tomorrow night. We know what it would mean for everybody at home, for the fans, for us as a squad after all the hard work that’s gone in.

“I’m not a believer in fairytales but I am a believer in dreams. Now we have to make it happen tomorrow. it would be lovely story but it’s in our hands.”

Desperate Kane

England captain Harry Kane said he would swap all his individual top scorer prize for victory in the Euro final.

Kane, who is one of the tournament’s three-goal leading marksmen, said: “It’s been a long journey so full credit to the boys. We’re so happy to be back in another Euro final and we’re desperate to go one step further than last time.

“When you lose a final it’s tough to wipe it out of the memory but I’m someone who always tries to learn so although that moment was difficult it was three years ago and a lot has happened at club and national team level since then. Now I’m happy to be back on this stage and it’s about getting out there and getting over the line.

“I believe we’ve grown as we’ve been going through the tournament, with the late goals and the shootout [against Switzerland] so I think the team is confident. There will be a few nerves with the excitement but once you step on the pitch it’s a matter of getting out there and doing your job.”

###########