Southgate stresses importance of third-place play-off

According to the 'Daily Mail' numbers were down for the pre-game press conference in Saint Petersburg.

That didn't stop Gareth Southgate and Fabian Delph from stressing the importance of the game, and what it could mean for broken English hearts.

Southgate is still disappointed with the late semi-final defeat against Croatia, telling the room that the moment "is going to live with me forever."

But he was looking to the future, and the clash with Belgium, in which a win could see the team secure England's second best finish at a World Cup.

He's also thinking ahead to the Euro 2020 competition which could see England play at Wembley in front of a massive home crowd if they reach the semi-finals and beyond.

Delph is the only player who has been able to experience the atmosphere at home while the tournament has been going on.

He shared his experience when he returned to the base camp in Repino.

"I genuinely felt the love and support of the nation," he said. "Everybody was screaming “It’s coming home”. On the school run, usually the kids run past me, but I was signing autographs."

"Even the teacher seemed to like me a bit more."

"We had a home birth. The midwife was asking for a picture. She told me, “It’s coming home”. It was fantastic to see that support because we are in a bubble and we don’t get to feel what it’s like outside. My experience was phenomenal, so when I got back here I told the guys what it was like."

Delph described how onyl Southgate was able to break the silence in the dressing room following the defeat to Croatia.

However, he said that optimism began to grow again when the team got back to training the following day.

"We did what we normally do; speak about the game and where we can go from there," Delph said.

"It’s so important to finish the tournament well, as high as possible, and go home with a medal," he said. "I know it’s not a winners’ medal but it’s a medal and we can be proud of that."