John Stones wants beers flying for the right reasons again as England star calls for return to spirit of 2018
JOHN STONES wants beers flying for all the right reasons again — by bringing back the feel-good factor against Switzerland.
The defender hopes a storming quarter-final win can get the pints flowing, just like when fans fell back in love with England in 2018.
And Stones feels boss Gareth Southgate is even more thirsty for success tomorrow, having had plastic pint cups thrown at him by supporters after the goalless draw with Slovenia.
The nation partied when Southgate surprisingly led us to the 2018 World Cup semis.
And Stones declared: “We’ve got to bring that back, which comes with winning, playing well and exciting the nation. We know they are behind us, that’s an incredible feeling in itself.
“But to not be performing at our peak, or as good as we know that we can, is frustrating.
“We just have to try to get ourselves back to where we were — with that fluid, exciting football and creating more chances.
“Which is what we all want as players and I’m sure everyone at home and in the stands does as well.
“That’s a point that I’ve made and wanted to get across to everyone.
“That we have got to do better to keep improving and progressing in this tournament.
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“This week’s been great and I’ve seen a shift already.
“Sometimes in these games — in these tournaments — to win when it is not pretty is a positive.
“I know that everyone won’t see it this way.
“But to get over the line in difficult moments, when not playing well, only leads us to improve and keep striving to play better.”
England scraped past Slovakia in the last 16 with a 2-1 win but it was in the final group game against Slovenia when some supporters turned on Southgate.
Manchester City star Stones, 30, said: “I have only heard about the criticism he’s been receiving.
“I saw some supporters after one game throwing bottles in his direction. I am sure that will have motivated him that bit more.
“Everyone has spent time with him and knows him as a person and how hard he and his backroom staff work.
“So we definitely want to win for them, ourselves and our families — and everyone in the nation.”
England were embarrassingly facing defeat by Slovakia before Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp overhead kick, with Harry Kane grabbing an extra-time winner.
And Stones believes this lucky escape could mark a huge change in England’s fortunes in Germany.
He added: “It is a turning point emotionally, to do it in such a high-pressure moment.
“I believe it is going to change a lot of things for the team.
“There is a great picture of us celebrating that goal and everyone on the bench were off their feet and staff were off their seats in the stands. It shows you that unity as a team.
“When you have done these things, you believe even more that you can do better when it gets tough.”
England could switch to a back-three against Switzerland — and Stones believes this would not be an issue.
He said: “Opposition-wise, it causes them a problem. We’ve done it in previous tournaments, though.
“I remember playing Germany in the last Euros, previously to that in 2018.
“It’s a great thing to have in the locker for us as a team.
“If we need to go to that and play that system, it’s something that shouldn’t be underestimated that we can do it so easily and seamlessly, and kind of click together.
“We’re really fluid in both systems and that comes down to us that when we get out on the pitch, we put it into practice.”