GARETH SOUTHGATE’S side are breaking down the mental barriers to have the time of their lives at Euro 2020.
Rather than being scared or weighed down by England’s history, his fun-loving squad is showing togetherness ahead of tonight’s crunch semi-final showdown with Denmark.
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That has been endorsed by Dr. Ian Mitchell, the Three Lions’ Head of Performance Psychology, who will be involved in his third straight last-four appearance in a major tournament after also helping Wales in 2016.
Understated and humble, Mitchell was a key member of Chris Coleman’s coaching staff in France before he joined the FA in February 2018.
And, since Head of People and Team Development Pippa Grange left in 2019, he has taken on a more prominent role.
Mitchell’s relaxed and open methods appear to be working again as England have swapped humiliation to Iceland and glum faces five summers ago with smiles aplenty.
In France, Wales had quiz nights, table tennis tournaments, and trips out for pancakes and ice cream to ease the boredom as well as problem-solving team-bonding sessions.
So it is no surprise to see the pictures of pals Declan Rice and Mason Mount re-enacting wrestling moves in the swimming pool.
Or Bukayo Saka mid-air on a unicorn as well as a team BBQ complete with Ed Sheeran concert to highlight the team spirit being fostered at St George’s Park.
And ex-Wales midfielder David Edwards believes the influence of Mitchell has turned England from a team of grumpy individuals — who he faced at the last Euros — into a tight-knit squad that has taken the competition by storm.
I remember playing them at the Euros in Lens and, although they beat us, they looked so scared on the pitch
David Edwards
Edwards, 35, said: “What Mitch did helped us and it’s helping England now.
“This is completely different now from previous England teams — 100 per cent.
“I remember playing them at the Euros in Lens and, although they beat us, they looked so scared on the pitch. Raheem Sterling was getting absolute dog’s abuse from the stands and you could see him go within himself.
“He had a chance in the first half and skied his finish.
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“From that moment on it was difficult for him because he was getting abused and that is before the outside pressures from social media.
“But you can just tell the atmosphere within the squad now is very much like ours in 2016. It’s almost like a carbon copy of what we were doing.
“They are having such a laugh, they all seem really friendly and the togetherness is there.
“You read England stories of the past and how players hated going away to major tournaments and how they were stuck in their hotel rooms. Could you imagine sitting in your hotel room at a major tournament all day thinking about football? The pressure keeps adding onto you.
What he did was not just relieve that boredom aspect but he gave you strategies to cope with it as well. He was very clever at his job
David Edwards on Ian Mitchell
“Mitch’s main job was to create tasks for the players.
“What he did was not just relieve that boredom aspect but he gave you strategies to cope with it as well. He was very clever at his job.
“He was good at getting inside your mind but not feeling like you were in a psychiatrist’s chair. You could speak to him about anything.
“When we met up for the Euros we were put into five different teams and we built up points through quizzes and tasks.
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“It made the tournament really fun. Mitch was behind all of that and a big part of what Wales did. Our Euro 2016 campaign felt like a bit like a lads’ holiday and that didn’t happen by accident.
“We were given tasks to think under pressure against the clock and you had no idea how other groups had got on so you were second guessing everything.
“It could be a puzzle we’d have to put together as a team or move across a room without doing certain things.
“You had to remain calm and collected under pressure. It helped because those matches were the highest pressure we’d ever played in.
“The teamwork sessions made us perform at our best because we were relaxed, confident and wanted to do so well for each other.”
Qualified coach Mitchell works closely with Southgate — in the same way he did so successfully with Coleman both on the training pitch but also in engaging with the media.
The former Chelsea schoolboy footballer would observe pre-match press conferences and stand at the back of the room to aid Coleman.
He helped deliver clear messages to the Welsh public and emphasise the power of the team slogan ‘TogetherStronger’.
And, after the thumping 4-0 quarter-final over Ukraine in Rome, Southgate was on the same page, highlighting the team ethic and praising the squad members who did not even take to the field at the Stadio Olimpico.
The 43-cap Edwards added: “I believe Gareth did speak to Chris once he got the England job to see how we did things following our success in 2016.
“A big part of our success was our togetherness and every single message that Gareth and Harry Kane give out is all about the team.
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“There are no individuals. Gareth summed it up in his interview after the last game where the first thing he did was congratulate the players who weren’t playing.
“They have played a massive part in their whole team’s success and without them doing the right things in training then you don’t get the best out of the 11 that’s on the pitch.
“You can see they are all saying and doing the right things.”
