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Southgate and his side are preparing for Saturday's clash with Sweden. Alex Morton

Southgate: England must make the most of World Cup draw

‘We might not have this opportunity again.’

MANAGER GARETH SOUTHGATE says England “might not have this opportunity again” as he plots a way past Sweden in the quarter-finals to a first World Cup semi-final appearance in three decades.

Southgate said his team of youngsters led by Golden Boot contender Harry Kane “must make the most” of the way the cards have fallen for them in Russia.

“It’s a great opportunity, and although our team will be individually better in two years, we might not have this opportunity again,” he told the BBC.

England’s penalty shootout win over Colombia in the last-16 means only Sweden stand between them and reaching the semi-finals for the first time since 1990.

But despite all the euphoria generated back in England by his team’s progress, Southgate cautioned against getting too far ahead of themselves.

“You have to enjoy the good moments, but I am a long way from perfect, there are plenty of mistakes we have made while we have been here and we will make moving forward, so I think it is dangerous territory if we get carried away with things,” said Southgate.

Sweden have proved a notoriously tough rival for England in the past, with Southgate pointing out: “They are older, more experienced, and have a better tournament record than us.”

England face Sweden in Samara on Saturday, with the winner of that going on to play either Croatia or 2018 hosts Russia in the last four.

© – AFP, 2018

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    Mute Padraig
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    Feb 12th 2017, 9:59 PM

    Great article.All the best to them.It would be great to see an Irish team in the Tour de France in a few years.Its a pity we don’t have more Irish Millionaires like Rick Delaney backing sport.

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    Mute Colm Casey
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    Feb 12th 2017, 10:46 PM

    We have an Irish millionaire that supports Irish sport, his name is Denis O’ Brien, yet everyone hates him. He doesn’t pay tax in Ireland either. Strange

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    Mute MARK O 'LEARY
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    Feb 12th 2017, 11:13 PM

    Aqua Blue sounds like an aftershave I drank during the eighties, best of success to them.

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    Mute Mr. Common Sense
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    Feb 12th 2017, 11:03 PM

    What does Mr Delaney do for a living? I’m assuming he is not a scion of family that was big in the donkey business back in the day.

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    Mute Irving Chubbie
    Favourite Irving Chubbie
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    Feb 13th 2017, 1:30 AM

    Those lads in the photo from Dubai have huge looking balls on them.

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    Mute Ian Scott
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    Feb 13th 2017, 6:56 AM

    Great to see Irish cycling getting an

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    Mute Trisec Training
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    Feb 13th 2017, 10:31 AM

    Aqua Green Sport would better capture the Irish imagination.

    Hope they do well

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