Germany win 'redemption' for Southgate

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England's 2-0 win over Germany in their Euro 2020 last-16 tie was "redemption" for manager Gareth Southgate, 25 years on from his penalty miss at Euro 96.

Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane were on target to set up a quarter-final tie against Ukraine in Rome on Saturday.

"For my team-mates that played with me I can't change that (penalty miss) so it will always hurt," said Southgate.

"But what is lovely is we have given people another day to remember and now we have to do it in Rome."

Former England defender Tony Adams, who played alongside Southgate when the Three Lions lost to Germany at Euro 96, tweeted: "Redemption for Gareth."

Another Euro 96 team-mate Alan Shearer told BBC Breakfast: "I've forgiven him a long time ago. It's been a long 25 years for Gareth."

England's quarter-final against Ukraine in Rome on Saturday will be live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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Relaxed coronavirus restrictions meant Tuesday's game at Wembley was played in front of 40,000 fans - the biggest attendance for a UK sporting event since the start of the pandemic.

There was a raucous atmosphere, particularly after England's two goals, and Southgate says it was a "special" moment after such a difficult time for the country.

"I've been here with a full house and not heard it anywhere near the levels the crowd managed today. The energy was incredible in the stadium," he said.

"To know that so many millions of people after such a difficult year at home can have that enjoyment that I know we'd have given them today is very special."

In-form Sterling has scored three of England's four goals in Euro 2020. Kane's strike came after failing to score in the group stage and then struggling to make an impact for much of Tuesday's encounter.

However, the Tottenham striker's goal means he has joined Wayne Rooney on seven goals in major tournaments for England, behind only Gary Lineker (10) and Alan Shearer (nine).

"They both have to prove people wrong all the time and Raheem has been immense for us over a period," added Southgate of the Manchester City forward who has scored 15 goals in his past 20 England appearances.

"We have that faith in him and trust in him and his performances have been electric right from the start.

"For Harry, when you are a centre forward you need those goals, I was pleased to see that second one go in.

"We know there have been questions about us against big teams. We will always have passion and heart, but we played with brains today. That was a real step forward for us."

'It doesn't mean a thing if we lose on Saturday'

Germany join world champions France, Euro 2016 winners Portugal and the Netherlands as some of the tournament heavyweights to have been knocked out of the competition.

Southgate does not believe that makes things any easier for England as they look to claim a first European Championship title, but knows they now have a huge opportunity to go far in the tournament.

"They are having a sing in the changing room and I had to be a party pooper as usual to say 'look its great but it doesn't mean a thing if we lose on Saturday'," he said.

"It is brilliant for everyone to be excited but we are mugs if we think we are in the right half of the draw and we are carried away by all of that. We have to get Saturday's game right.

"I know what we have set out to achieve. These players keep writing history and they have got the chance again.

"We have only been to one European Championship semi-final. They can do something really special."

'It means everything to beat them'

Defender Harry Maguire said England executed their game plan perfectly to come away with a deserved win.

"It was magnificent, to get the crowd going. The atmosphere is electric," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"We came out, we knew there was a lot of pressure on us to deliver a performance and a victory which is the most important bit. From start to finish, apart from the first 10 minutes where we were a little bit nervy, to a man everyone was excellent. We deserved the victory.

"It is a magnificent night for everyone involved who follows this country, we put a smile on a lot of people's faces, that's what we do, that's why we play football.

"I am not going to play it down, it means everything to beat them."

Midfielder Declan Rice said England had proved their critics wrong with the last-16 victory.

"It's incredible," the 22-year-old said.

"A lot of people had written us off in the group stage, complaints about the performances, not scoring enough, but we want to prove people wrong.

"With a full house, everyone had the fire in the belly to one, knock Germany out, and two, progress in the tournament.

"It is history, all the players were asked about the past games but we created history. Gary Neville said these games don't come round often and it was a pleasure to be out there."

Sterling put England in front with a close-range finish at a time when the game was in the balance.

He said: "We knew we needed to put a big performance in.

"Doing it [scoring] for your country will always be special and it is definitely a special moment for me."

Captain Kane believes "there isn't anything bigger" than beating Germany says the players have a vision of where they want to go after reaching the quarter-finals.

"Any team will look at us and know that we're dangerous," said Kane.

"There isn't anything bigger than this when the expectation is on and we delivered, so we should be proud - but we can't stop here. We have a vision of where we want to go and we can't stop now.

"Hopefully we'll be back here in the semi-finals and the final."