Southgate: 'Anything is possible'

 "Why would I limit what they feel is possible?" he said. 

"My job is to allow people to dream. What's the saying? 'Make the impossible seem possible.'

"They are at an age and a hunger, and have an enthusiasm and no little quality, so that they can certainly keep improving.

"But we have got to improve to reach the latter stages of a tournament and that is going to take a lot of work over the next few weeks and a huge commitment, but I am seeing evidence that they're embracing that challenge."

A noticeable part of England's preparation has the positive spirit around the camp, and Southgate believes that can only help. 

"I think that's allowing us to create an environment where they're actually having a go at things we're asking them to do, when sometimes I think, 'They're never going to go for this'," Southgate continued. 

"They're at times painstakingly putting up with some of the things I throw their way, so that I think would be more difficult with older players, I have to say.

"I think you're starting to hear some of their own stories and background, which I think is really important. And we're all England fans. You've seen pictures of them and I am the same.

"I've got a picture of myself in the shirt from 82 at home. I am lucky that there's some of me in a shirt playing and now I am proud to lead the team, so it goes right through the group and we're really looking forward to going.

"I've said to them, we're going to attack the tournament."