Gareth Southgate has been slammed by Germany's biggest newspaper for suggesting that memories of the Second World War helpd inspire England's Euro 2020 run - including their last 16 victory over Joachim Low's side.
The Three Lions beat Germany 2-0 to reach the quarter-final and wins against Ukraine and Denmark have ensured their place in today's Euro 2020 final with Italy at Wembley.
England's only triumph in a major tournament came in 1966 when they beat Germany 4-2 in extra-time and Southgate highlighted the historic significance of reaching another Wembley final.
Germany's biggest newspaper Bild have slammed Gareth Southgate for suggesting memories of World War II helped inspire England's Euro 2020 run
The manager referenced Blitz Spirit and England withstanding invasions during World War II
The manager referenced England's wartime spirit as he urged supporters to be proud the country's achievements on and off the pitch.
'I think there are historic things that we should be proud of,' Southgate said on Friday.
'There are different aspects to it, but at heart I go back to the values that my parents gave me and treating people as you would want to be treated, and just respectful really.
'But also people have tried to invade us and we've had the courage to hold that back. You can't hide that some of the energy in the stadium against Germany was because of that. I never mentioned that to the players, but I know that's part of what that story was.
England beat Germany 2-0 in the last 16 and will now play Italy in the final at Wembley tonight
'We have so many things here that we should be proud of that we probably underestimate, that maybe if we were living in other countries we always see what's good about them, but we are always looking at the negatives of our own country.
'Yet we have got so much to
