AFTER THE STRAIN WE'RE READY TO REIGN

Southgate admits he has suffered highs and lows in this tournament but now he's only focused on glory

- JOHN CROSS

GARETH SOUTHGATE admits the last five weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster.

The Three Lions boss now finds himself 90 minutes from glory and potentially winning England's first major trophy on foreign soil.

But the journey to tomorrow's final in Berlin has been a testing one. From having beer cups thrown at him after a goalless draw with Slovenia or the players slumped on the pitch after a draw with Denmark.

They were the lows before the highs of beating Switzerland in a penalty shoot-out, a great last-gasp comeback to beat Slovakia and then Ollie Watkins' dramatic winner to overcome Holland in the semi-final. But Southgate made it clear none of the highs would have come unless he confronted the lows.

The boss even admitted he feared all his good work in the past - easing the weight of the shirt and taking England to major finals - could have quickly unravelled.

"There was a danger but I was determined to confront it," said Southgate. "When the beer came over I was going to go and walk towards it because we fought too hard to change the environment for the players.