Gareth Southgate wants England Euro glory 'so much it hurts'

Gareth Southgate says he leads England into the European Championship final against Spain wanting "to win so much on Sunday it hurts".

The men's team are through to just a third ever major final, with the Berlin showpiece offering the chance to join Sir Alf Ramsey’s 1966 World Cup heroes in immortality.

England went within a penalty shoot-out of becoming kings of the continent three years ago and Southgate is desperate to go one better against favourites Spain at the Olympiastadion.

Asked if the outcome of Sunday’s Euro 2024 showpiece would define him, the long-serving manager said: "It will. But in the eyes of others.

"Where I’m fortunate is that age and experience has made me more comfortable with who I am, what I’m good at, what I need to be better at.

"I completely understand that in the end, winning and what they means completely changes how you’re going to be viewed by other people.

"But the margins are so far and there are bits you can affect, others you are not going to effect.

"I would probably have felt differently about that three years ago, five years ago, but I'm in a different space now and that’s a good thing because otherwise I’d have been in a mess these last five weeks."

Few know the highs and lows that come with representing England better than Southgate, who saw his penalty saved in the Euro 96 semi-final shoot-out loss to Germany.

That was one of four major tournaments the proud Englishman went to as a player, with these Euros his fourth as manager.

"As a player and an athlete, you view those failures in a different sort of way," Southgate said ahead of his 102nd match in charge. "As a coach, manager, leader, you recognise what you’re doing well.

"Had we gone out in the first knockout round here, I know I’ve