Gareth Southgate says England are 'ready' for Euro 2020 semi-final

England manager Gareth Southgate has admitted it is "really exciting" that his team has the chance to become the first England side to reach a European Championship final, and this side are "ready" to face Denmark in the last four at Wembley on Wednesday evening.

The winner of the tie will face Italy in Sunday’s final, also at Wembley, and for England it represents the chance to go one better than at Euro ’96 and three ago at the 2018 World Cup.

The nation has been gripped by ‘It’s Coming Home’, although Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who has lived most of his life in England, pointed out the evening before the semi-final that, in a European Championship context, it still never has ‘come home’.

“We don't have as good a football history as we like to believe sometimes,” an honest Southgate conceded in comments published by BBC Sport.

“These players are making massive strides and breaking down barriers all the time. We have never been to a European Championship final so we can be the first England team to do that which is really exciting,” he added.

"We are ready for the game, the players are ready, they have got tremendous experience themselves having been in this situation before.

“Our preparations have been calm and we know we are playing a very good opponent. It's going to be a really tight game and an exciting game for everybody."

England have grown into Euro 2020 with each passing game following a slow start in each group stage matches against Croatia and Scotland. Things warmed up a little against Czech Republic, after a place in the knockout rounds was already secure, before a momentous last 16 victory over Germany – England’s first against their long-time rivals in a knockout game in 55 years.

The quarter-final against Ukraine in Rome was much more straightforward, with England scoring early and ultimately cruising to a very comfortable 4-0 win.

Denmark’s opening game was marred by the devastating scenes following Christian Eriksen’s collapse and resuscitation from a cardiac arrest, but the squad was brought closer by those awful scenes and got through the group stage with a handsome win over Russia.

They easily saw off Wales in the last 16, winning 4-0, and again showed their tactical organisation and discipline with a 2-1 win over a decent Czech Republic team in their quarter-final.

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