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Gary Neville issues rallying cry to England players ahead of semi-final

Gary Neville has drawn on his own experiences with England to try and help inspire Gareth Southga...



Gary Neville issues rallying c...
Soccer

Gary Neville issues rallying cry to England players ahead of semi-final

Gary Neville has drawn on his own experiences with England to try and help inspire Gareth Southgate's side to win against Denmark and progress into the final against Italy.

Neville posted a picture of the side who started against Ukraine in the quarter-final on Instagram, writing an emotive letter to the side.

Gary Neville: History beckons for this team

"History beckons for this team," Neville writes.

"To reach back-to-back semi-finals is incredible, but it’s not enough.  You become nearly men!

"'If we’d took that chance, if he hadn’t got injured, if the ref hadn’t got that one wrong..'

"I do have genuine confidence in this manager and players that this time a semi-final isn't the end!

"To win any semi-final takes a great performance.

"This is a really good Denmark team and anything less than our best and/or luck will not be enough.

"The only danger is that the lads don’t see the danger.

"When you’re euphoric and on a wave in sport or life you can have that feeling it’s never going to end and something becomes your right.

"It doesn’t work like that. Tonight is a night to be cold, don’t let emotion take over, stick to the manager's plan and focus.

"These are young men who haven’t got massive life experience. They will have a manager and staff that are grounding them and when they go back to their rooms they will have mates or family ringing them asking for tickets or making travel preparations for Sunday's final!

"I’ve been there as a 21-year-old in Euro '96. All of a sudden, it’s gone! You're packing your bags at 1am in the morning and driving home thinking how did that happen all the way home for 4 hours in a car!

"Don’t be driving home at 1am in the morning! I still remember that journey home.

"I remember turning into my drive in Larkfield Close in Greenmount, Bury, the daylight, and that feeling that even though I hadn’t drank you feel hungover with no sleep! Numb!

"Go for it lads! Focus and grab this chance!"

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