Gareth Southgate insists England are not satisfied by reaching Euro 2020 semi-final

England manager Gareth Southgate has insisted both he and his players will not be satisfied with just reaching a semi-final, stressing they are on the hunt for major silverware.

The Three Lions have a date with Denmark in the semi-final of Euro 2020 on Wednesday, in which they will battle it out for a spot in the final against either Italy or Spain.

While reaching the semi-final is obviously impressive, Southgate insisted England got their fix of that stage in the 2018 World Cup and they now genuinely see themselves as contenders to major international trophies.

“We’ve knocked off so many hoodoos or perceived barriers already and I feel like this group of players will feel this is just the next challenge,” he said (via The Telegraph).

“I guess the interesting part for us is we won’t feel totally satisfied if it’s just a semi-final whereas maybe three years ago, although there was massive disappointment after the semi-final, there was a feeling we’d come a long way.

“Now we’ve replicated what we did there, but that won’t be enough to fulfil the group. That’s a positive sign."

Southgate was also keen to heap praise on the younger members of the squad, whom he believes have helped the English public fall back in love with their national team.

“Our group are ready to get to the next step, they are excited by that challenge,” he continued. “They have got a mixture of being able to make themselves, I feel, relatable to the public, but they have got an edge. They don't get through the last few weeks and the challenges that they have had and the challenges they have got through in the last 12 months as a team without having an edge or that mental toughness as well.

“Of course, in tournaments some of the games unfold in really peculiar ways. We've seen that with some of the other matches. But they will be prepared and they will be ready mentally, and we have got guys who have won trophies now and know what that has taken. But they have also gained confidence from that.

“The other thing that is so positive, these young players, 18, 19, 20, 21, they’re getting more experiences of England that are positive and enjoyable.

"They’re feeling what it can be like to be in an England shirt and have fun, and win matches and have a relationship with the fans that is positive. That’s so important for a generation to come. We’ll get more out of their talent if we can keep that relationship with the fans.”

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