Kane and Southgate looking to make England dreams come true with Euro24 trophy against Spain
13/06/2024
UEFA24
Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
13/06/2024
UEFA24
Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Hello, everybody. Welcome to the final Matchday Minus One press conference for England with
00:15head coach Gareth Sarkar and player Harry Kane, of course. Obviously, we have very high
00:20attendance this evening, so please raise your hand, wait for the microphone, and we'll limit
00:25it to one question per journalist, please. Simon in the front.
00:32I'm Simon Peach from the Press Association. A question for Gareth. First of all, good luck.
00:37Secondly, how's the team looking and what's your overriding emotions heading into the game?
00:44Well, everybody is fit, which is great, although not unusual for a cup final. And yeah, we're
00:52excited for the challenge. Clearly, the team have improved over the last few weeks, shown
01:02tremendous character, resilience. I have to say they've been a privilege to work with every
01:06day on the training pitch, the whole squad fully committed to every session. So it's been a
01:12great environment to work in. And now we have a fabulous opportunity tomorrow to achieve
01:21what we set out, really, from the moment we left Qatar, a bit earlier than we'd have liked to.
01:30Question for Harry. It's Carvey Solicol from Sky Sports. Harry, what does it say about your
01:35character and the character of your teammates, that just three years after the
01:41disappointment of that final against Italy, you were in another Euros final?
01:46Yeah, I think it shows unbelievable consistency, first and foremost. I think a lot of us after that
01:55final were obviously heartbroken with the result. And as always, it's always a long journey back to
02:02getting to where we are now. So full credit to the boys for the resilience that we've shown. And
02:09yeah, I think there's a speech volumes for the mentality of the squad. So extremely happy to be in
02:15this situation and to be back in another European final. And of course, we're really desperate to
02:22go that one step further than what we did last time.
02:26Question for Gareth. Alex Howell, BBC. What's the message been to the players ahead of the game tomorrow?
02:34Well, we haven't had too much time on the training pitch, but several meetings trying to assess the
02:46opponent, work out the best way to play against the opponent. But our messages haven't really changed
02:53throughout the six, seven weeks we've been together. We've had a long-term vision. We've always broken
03:00that down into smaller pieces. We've got good experience of big matches now. And yeah, I think at
03:08these moments, you don't need to say too much for the players. They don't need motivating for a game
03:14like this. It's about making sure the small details are right. Fine margins decide these games. And
03:21we've got to make sure that we're on the right side of those fine margins. And we keep repeating the
03:30mentality and the approach to the game in terms of our decision-making is really important. It's not just
03:38about going out and playing a game of football. And you've got to make sure that on these nights, you get
03:45everything right.
03:48Question for Harry, please. Hi, Harry. Good to see you. What would it mean to England as a nation to win the
03:55Euros?
03:56I think it would mean everything. I think it would be, obviously, the most incredible feeling, I think, as a
04:04professional footballer you could get. And I'm sure also for the fans to have that moment in history and to be
04:11able to celebrate that would be something very special. But yeah, we've been here before. And like I said, it was
04:18a tough finish in the last Euros. So there's that extra hunger and fire in the belly to make sure this one goes
04:26our way. But we also know it's going to be an extremely tough night. So we've prepared well. We'll still have a
04:33couple of meetings from now until the game. And like the boss said there, it's going to come down to small
04:37details, which we've been able to get right throughout the whole tournament so far. And we're going to need that
04:43and even more in tomorrow's final.
04:45Tom Buckley from The Sun. Question for Harry. As you've mentioned, we all know how painful three years must have
04:53been. I imagine that moment of walking past the trophy after the game is something that stayed with you for a long
04:58time. How much does that specific moment give you motivation going into tomorrow's game?
05:04Yeah, I think it's, you know, whenever you lose a final, it's always tough to wipe it out of memory. You know, I'm
05:12always someone who tries to learn from disappointment and learn from times that are tough. And I feel like it helps
05:18me improve as a player and a person. So of course, that moment was difficult. But it was three years ago. A lot has
05:24happened since and for international level and for club level. So yeah, I'm excited to be back on that stage. It's
05:32been a hard journey to get here. And now it's just about going out there and trying to execute the game plan that we
05:40want and, you know, getting over the line. And that's what we spoke about, you know, over the years is, you know, we've
05:47done fantastic in a lot of tournaments, but now it's time to get over the line and we have that opportunity tomorrow.
05:54Question to Harry. Danny Olmo denied you for Bundesliga title. You're facing him tomorrow. Will you hope to win against him?
06:04Yeah, it's not a personal battle between me and him. But of course, I want England to win tomorrow night. So, yeah, sometimes
06:13in the build-up to this game, there's a lot of talk and there's a lot of things said. But ultimately, it's just about what
06:21happens on the pitch tomorrow night. And that's what I'm focused on.
06:24Hi, Henry Winter, World Soccer. A question for Gareth. Gareth, good luck tomorrow. Declan was telling us yesterday that when
06:31you were at St. George's Park before this, you showed them pictures of the reaction in Trafalgar Square, I assume, when England
06:37won the Ashes and there won't be World Cup. How do you balance that without making it too emotional?
06:44Yes, really. I think that at the start is a sign of the vision, really. When you're trying to create dreams, you've got to have a
06:57clear picture of what you want to see at the end of it. And we then break that vision. OK, this is where we want to go and these are
07:06the details that have to be right across the last two years and the improvements that we needed to make as a team. So, I think that
07:15lights a small fire for some people. For others, it's different. So, you're trying to affect the whole group in different ways. But we
07:22know what it would mean to everybody at home. We know what it would mean to us as a squad, the hard work that's gone in, not just
07:33this group of players, but players that have been with us for the last six or seven years, who've played a massive part in this journey
07:39with us. And all of the staff that have been involved, it's really been a huge team effort. All of those people have helped create the
07:47culture that we have and we would love to give everybody a special night again tomorrow.
07:53Harry, did you think these last two hours about in which extent your career and maybe your life could change if you lift the trophy tomorrow?
08:10I think you try not to think too much about that side of it. Of course, I know what it would mean to me and I know what it would mean to our
08:20country if we won the final. So, of course, you have that in your mind and you use that as motivation to try and be successful tomorrow.
08:27But, yeah, I think it's hard because when we're here and we've been away, you're kind of in your own bubble, you're kind of in your own
08:35environment. And of course, you see the videos and you see the fans when you arrive to games. But I think it's really hard to tell what's going on
08:44back in England, but I'm sure it's fantastic to be a part of. From my point of view, I'm extremely excited for the opportunity to make a lot of people,
08:57including myself, happy tomorrow night. It's going to be a big battle, so we're going to give it everything we've got.
09:06At midnight tomorrow night, or whenever the game will finish, we really hope to beat a team that brings a trophy to England.
09:19I have a question for both of you. In 1996, Germany won the European Championship in England. Tomorrow, 28 years later, you're playing here in Germany in the final.
09:30Do you believe in fate?
09:36You can answer that one. You was around in 1996. I know you're free.
09:41I was around, very much around. Probably one of the more popular Englishmen in Berlin, I would imagine. I'm not a believer in fairy tales, but I am a believer in dreams.
09:56We've had big dreams. We've felt the need and the importance of that. But then you have to make those things happen. Fate, the run that we've had, the late goals,
10:15the penalties, that doesn't equate to us. It being our moment, we have to make it happen tomorrow. We have to perform at the level that we need to perform.
10:25Of course, it would be a lovely story, but it's in our hands and our performance that is the most important thing.
10:35Rob Harrison, Sky News. Good luck for tomorrow. You've grown up as a fan. You've seen all the fans over the years coming so close. How desperate are you to win it for them?
10:47You've spent so many weeks out here, invested so much to follow the team. Have you spoken to the Lionesses about how winning a trophy like this can change the whole mindset?
10:57From the fans' point of view, we were all fans growing up, England fans. We know we had some great moments in tournaments, but we couldn't quite get there.
11:08From my point of view, just with the fans head-on, I know it would have been an incredible night if we did achieve what we want to achieve tomorrow.
11:18In terms of the Lionesses, I haven't spoken to anyone. Obviously, what they achieved was incredible and you saw how it brought the nation together in that moment.
11:26We're hoping to do the same and we have that opportunity tomorrow.
11:33You're facing one of the Spanish teams that has been playing better in the last weeks we have seen in this tournament.
11:47What is your biggest concern about the Spanish team? What is your biggest worry right now, 24 hours before the final?
11:55Not so much a concern, but my observations on the team would be that they have a very clear way of playing, a very settled team.
12:09They press really well with real intensity. Of course, like all Spanish teams, they keep possession of the ball exceptionally well.
12:20You have to be very well organised in the way that you play.
12:25We've also kept the ball really well in the last few matches in particular.
12:30We're showing our real selves and the side of ourselves, the version of ourselves that we wanted to bring into this tournament.
12:38That's been starting to come over the last three matches.
12:42I thought we played very, very well against the Netherlands and that's our intention again tomorrow night.
12:53When you look around the dressing room at your team-mates, what feeling do you get from them? What sort of stance did they give you?
13:00Of course, before every tournament you have to have a belief you can win it, otherwise there's no point being in the tournament.
13:07But I think that belief has grown as we've gone through the tournament.
13:10I think what we've been through with the late goals and the penalty shoot-outs and all that stuff builds resilience, it builds belief.
13:19I think the team is obviously confident, but I think it's like every game.
13:26We prepare in the same way, we know every team we're going to face is going to be difficult, so we never take anything for granted.
13:34We know we have a lot of great players in the team, we know we have a great togetherness,
13:38and we're going to need all that and more to be successful.
13:41From my point of view, it's great to be a part of, it's great to have that feeling.
13:46I'm sure tomorrow night there will be a few nerves, there will be excitement,
13:49but ultimately when you step out on that pitch it's just doing your job and doing what we've done throughout the whole tournament.
13:55Hi, Gareth, Mitch Phillips from Reuters.
13:57A lot of people on the outside and fans were obviously hugely impressed with the Netherlands game and kind of changed their view.
14:04How much did it change anything for you, or did you think this is what we knew we can do, or was it an eye-opener?
14:12No, I think we've had to find a different way of playing as the tournament's progressed.
14:21When we came into the tournament we had a lot of issues, particularly at the back in actual fact.
14:27A lot of players who had missed a lot of football towards the end of the season.
14:33Jon Stones hardly played for Manchester City, he's been absolutely exceptional.
14:38Mark Gurry and Kieran Trippier, Luke Shaw, all out injured for months coming towards the end of the season.
14:47We've been trying to find the right blend and balance all the way through the summer really.
14:54Lots of little issues to solve, trying to find the best balance for our attacking players because we've got super talent,
15:03but a lot that like to operate in similar areas.
15:07We feel we've started to find that balance as the tournament has progressed.
15:13I've really liked how we've looked. We look dangerous, we look like we can score goals again.
15:18I'm happy with where the team are at going into this game.
15:26Question for Gareth from NRK Norway.
15:28You have a great penalty taker next to you of course, but what's been the key for you to perform better at penalties,
15:35and who do you think deserves credit for that?
15:39Well, a lot of people involved. In the end, I believe it's a skill to be performed under pressure that you can practice
15:51and that you can improve. We've wanted to take control of those processes, feel in charge of it.
16:00It's obviously helped by the fact that this time around we've got a lot more players that take penalties regularly for their clubs.
16:08But nevertheless, we've now won three of our last four, which is a big shift from where we were, where we'd won one in seven I think.
16:17A lot of people have been involved. A lot of people can take a lot of satisfaction in that piece of work.
16:26And again, we have to be ready in case that's needed tomorrow.
16:30Harry, I'm Carlo Tassler. Harry, last summer you moved to Germany.
16:35People in England started watching Bundesliga. They finally found out there is football outside the Premier League.
16:42Now, a year later, you are here in Berlin, almost a shared treasure between England and Germany.
16:50Do you have a feeling that perhaps this project Berlin started last summer already for you personally?
17:00Yeah, I mean, it's hard to say. I didn't move to Bayern Munich because of the Euros being in Germany.
17:06But the support I've had since I've been in Germany has been incredible throughout the whole season with Bayern.
17:12And even here in the tournament, every hotel we go to, every stadium, I really feel the warmth and support,
17:18not just from the English fans but from the German fans as well.
17:22Yeah, I'm really appreciative of that.
17:26I'm sure there's a few German fans who are wishing me well tomorrow.
17:30As a professional, all I can say is thank you because it means a lot to me.
17:34It motivates me even more to give back to all the fans that support me throughout my whole career.
17:40I've had the guys at Bayern, staff and players, messaging me as well and wishing me luck.
17:46So, yeah, there's a lot of people that support me throughout my career.
17:51Tomorrow is a great opportunity to say thanks to a lot of them.
17:57Hello, question for Harry, I'm here.
17:59Hello Harry, Hortense Leblanc from the French website France Info.
18:03I'm sorry to ask a question like this, but you've never won a trophy.
18:07If it was possible, would you accept to change all your top scorer trophies against this Euro?
18:13Is this an extra pressure for you? Thank you.
18:16Sorry, to swap the trophies for the Euros?
18:18If you...
18:19If I had the opportunity?
18:20Yeah.
18:21Yeah, for sure.
18:24No, of course, you know, it's no secret that I haven't won a team trophy.
18:29And every year that goes by, you're more motivated and you're more determined to change that.
18:35And, yeah, tomorrow night I have the opportunity to win one of the biggest you could ever win
18:41and to make history with my nation, which I'm extremely proud to be English.
18:44So, yeah, no question I'd swap everything I've done in my career to have a special night
18:50and a win tomorrow evening.
18:52But, yeah, that's not the case, so it's a lot of hard work from now until that moment.
18:58But, yeah, I'm really determined to make tomorrow night a special one.
19:05Hi, question for Gareth.
19:07Abraham Romero for Spain, El Mundo.
19:09You played in the quarter-final of the Euros 1996 against Spain.
19:15What do you remember about that game?
19:17And I don't know if there's any player that you remember from that match.
19:23Spanish player, of course.
19:25I played well.
19:29Nil-nil, defender's dream.
19:32We obviously won that game on penalties.
19:37Nadal is the player who sticks in my mind from that game in particular.
19:45Maybe Kiko played as well, I think.
19:49And maybe Luis Enrique on the bench.
19:54So, yeah, I remember it was a very tough game, probably a game Spain should have won.
20:01But, yeah, an important day for England.
20:08Our games with Spain have always been close, always difficult.
20:13Spain then hadn't had the success that they've had since and, of course, won so many trophies.
20:19So, you know, we've met Spain a lot at youth level as well in a lot of finals.
20:27So we know that their development of young players has been excellent for a long time.
20:31We've followed the project very closely.
20:33Seen lots of the players that are in the team now play at junior levels.
20:38But our junior teams have also been developing and improving
20:42and now we're starting to see those players come into the senior team as well.
20:46So I think two nations that are on a good pathway in terms of now and the future.
20:56A question for Harry, Ethan Foon from Football Cafe Media China.
21:00So some of the players in the two teams are familiar with each other.
21:04So to what extent have you talked about your opponents among the team?
21:10Like shared insights about how to defend them or attack them?
21:14Yeah, not too much.
21:15Of course, there's players that know each other from both teams.
21:18But I think the way we prepare is the same for every game and for threats that the team have.
21:26Some players like to look at individual clips of their opponents
21:30and who they're coming up against.
21:32You're always talking as players anyway, just in general of the game ahead
21:36and the teammates that you might know a bit more about.
21:41But ultimately, each player does what they want to do
21:44and prepares the way they want to prepare.
21:46As a team, we look at everything that we can.
21:50Ultimately, that's how we prepare for games.
21:55Hi, Gareth. This is Arthur Reynolds from Holland.
21:58I'm curious, how do you look to the last eight years since you've been appointed
22:02to the major developments and also to the mental resilience you increased?
22:08How do you, in a nutshell, look to that?
22:13Yeah, I think sometimes you have to go through difficult nights as a team.
22:20We tried to change the mindset from the start.
22:23We tried to be more honest about where we were as a football nation.
22:29I've travelled to World Cups, European Championships, watching as an observer
22:35and watched highlights reels before the matches that are on the big screens
22:41and we weren't in any of them because you only show the finals
22:45and you only show the big games.
22:48So we needed to change that.
22:51We had high expectations but they didn't match where we were performance-wise.
22:57Now the high expectations are still there but we have had consistent performances
23:04over certainly three of the last four tournaments,
23:08the quarter-final as well in the fourth.
23:10So, in the end, you have to be always in the latter stages of the tournaments
23:16to be able to learn how to win those big games.
23:20We're learning that.
23:21We've come through a lot of big nights now.
23:25A lot of records that we've broken.
23:28But we know in the end we have to do this one, we have to get this trophy
23:34to really feel the respect of the rest of the football world, I guess.
23:40Last four questions then.
23:42Antonio Ziegler, Sport 1 Israel.
23:44Question for Harry.
23:45How has Spain scored 13 goals and won all their matches?
23:49Everyone is talking about her being favourite.
23:51Do you agree with this statement?
23:53That's not for me or the players to decide.
23:57That's for the media and the fans to think who are favourites.
24:03Spain have had a fantastic tournament.
24:06They've probably been the best team consistency-wise throughout the tournament.
24:10So they probably earned that right.
24:14As we know, football, in one game anything can happen.
24:19We back ourselves against anyone we play against.
24:23We've been through difficult spells in this tournament
24:26but we've come through the other side.
24:27That builds a tremendous amount of belief and resilience
24:31which is everything you need in a final as well.
24:35We expect a tough game.
24:36We're in a European final so we expect nothing less.
24:40Spain will be difficult tomorrow night.
24:42Question here which might be in Spanish.
25:12How does it feel to celebrate your 17th birthday today?
25:42It's a definite threat for tomorrow night.
25:44He'll be one of their main players and main threats going forward.
25:49We have to be ready for that.
25:51All I can say is well done to him for his short career so far.
25:55Obviously a very good one.
26:02Hi Jürgen, it's me from TRT Sport.
26:06You lost to Germany on penalties in the semi-finals in 1996.
26:10Your emotions look after the match that are still in our minds.
26:14I have to say that.
26:16As a coach in 2021 you had a huge disappointment against Italy in Wembley.
26:21I think you have very different and strong emotions
26:24but maybe tried to hide a little bit on your heart.
26:28I think so.
26:30Let us know your current feelings with all your sincerity and reality.
26:37Fool.
26:41I couldn't give you my feelings for the last three weeks
26:43never mind the last 20 years.
26:49For me those difficult nights have taught me that football can change so quickly.
26:57The difference between winning and losing is so small.
27:02It's given me more perspective in my life
27:05because in the end there are bigger things than football that are more important.
27:15But football has given me an amazing life, amazing experiences,
27:19travel the world, be a part of something I love doing for nearly 35 years of my life.
27:26I couldn't have wished for anything more.
27:28To represent my country as a player
27:32and then to be able to leave my country for eight years as a manager
27:36has been the biggest privilege I could possibly have.
27:40Tomorrow I don't have any fear of what might happen
27:44because I have been through everything.
27:46I want the players to feel that fearlessness.
27:49I want them to be able to be the best version of themselves
27:53because whatever happens we are so strong as a group.
27:57We support each other.
27:59I said earlier in the tournament,
28:01if we're not afraid to lose it gives us a better chance of winning.
28:04That's very important for us.
28:09I'm personally excited for tomorrow.
28:12Looking forward to playing in an amazing stadium.
28:15It's been a brilliant tournament.
28:16I have to thank everybody here for the way the tournament has been run in Germany.
28:20They've put on an amazing event.
28:23We've been made very welcome,
28:25particularly in the village where we've been staying.
28:28Everybody's been wonderful to us.
28:30We're looking forward to this last step now.
28:39Can you take us into the dressing room,
28:41those 15 minutes before kick-off.
28:43What message will you deliver to the squad,
28:47particularly to those younger players
28:49who are experiencing this moment for the first time?
28:56When you're that close to kick-off,
28:58after the warm-up you're just getting ready.
29:01Everything's been prepared by then.
29:03Everything's been said.
29:05I normally have the final word in the huddle before we go out.
29:11At the moment I'm not quite sure what I'll say,
29:13but I'll think about that over the next 24 hours
29:16and try and get that message right.
29:18Ultimately, everyone's ready at that stage.
29:19You've been waiting a long time.
29:21You've been preparing.
29:22You've done all the hard work.
29:24Now it's just about going out there and executing
29:26and enjoying it on the pitch.
29:29Even the younger players, a lot of them are fearless
29:33and a lot of them want to just get out there.
29:36They know their best talking is with the ball at their feet.
29:39I'm sure that's what they're looking forward to tomorrow night.
29:43Thank you very much.
29:44We'll be back shortly with Luis de la Fuente and Jesús Narvaez.
29:54Thank you.