GARETH'S ON ROUTE 66

Squad was shown video of World Cup winners to hammer home point of team spirit and togetherness says Southgate

- RYAN TAYLOR AND SIMON MULLOCK

GARETH SOUTHGATE revealed how England called upon the spirit of 66 to keep their Euro 2024 dream alive - and save his job.

Southgate and his staff showed the squad video footage of England's only major tournament triumph ahead of their departure for Germany.

And Southgate (above) believes those clips inspired his players to fight until the final seconds - just as they looked to be heading home - to set up a quarter-final clash with Switzerland in Dusseldorf.

Ivan Schranz had put Slovakia ahead after 25 minutes and they looked heading to a shock win before Jude Bellingham's dramatic equaliser and Harry Kane's extra-time winner (together, left).

England boss Southgate said: "We showed the players a presentation of 1966 and how Geoff Hurst hadn't played until the quarterfinals.

"We wanted to highlight the value of the squad, players like Jimmy Greaves were playing a different role for the team and tournaments take you into strange places, difficult routes.