sport news Gareth Southgate believes England are better prepared for this World Cup than ... trends now 'I think there is a different mentality': Gareth Southgate believes England are better prepared for World Cup knockout stages Russia four years ago... as the Three Lions head into the last-16 with valuable experience By Ian Herbert For Mailonline Published: 23:59 GMT, 29 November 2022 | Updated: 00:06 GMT, 30 November 2022 Viewcomments Gareth Southgate last night declared that England have reached the World Cup knock-out stages in better shape than when they were World Cup semi-finalists in Russia, four years ago. Marcus Rashford inspired England to a 3-0 victory over Wales - with two second goals which took him to joint top of the Golden Boot table. He dedicated them to a friend who passed away from cancer a few days ago. Southgate, whose side will play Ecuador next, said that his squad had more self-belief than the one who qualified for the round of 16 in Russia, where they beat Colombia on penalties. Gareth Southgate believes England are better prepared in Qatar than in Russia four years ago He said: 'I think there is a different mentality. More belief. In Russia, we were just thinking, 'Can we win a knockout game?' Now there is more confidence and more experience of knockout matches. 'We are pleased the first objective is achieved. The spirit of the team is good we have got most of the team on the pitch which is fabulous for the dynamic - and no yellow cards which is good.' Speaking more closely on England's win over Wales, the 52-year-old manager said: 'We had complete control of the game in the first half but didn't create enough clear chances. We were a little bit out of balance and we thought we could reverse Marcus and Phil's sides. Players make those decisions work.' England crashed out in the semi-finals in Russia after losing to Croatia - despite taking the lead The move worked wonders for England as both players scored after they swapped wings. Southgate continued: 'Watching lots of games the big players have stepped up. And our forwards didn't do that in the first half but in the second half they really did. 'You need goals from all areas. It is a problem for opposition if the threat is coming from other areas of the pitch. It is competition for places and people have to deliver. 'You can see with his [Marcus Rashford's] club there have been happiness in his performances. We have a different version completely to the player we had in the Euros last summer.' Southgate believes that knockout stage experience has given his side more confidence Rashford was key for England today and Southgate made sure to speak on his recent journey before coming to Qatar. 'It's been a challenge for him,' said Southgate, who was unaware that the man-of-the-match's friend Garfield Hayward, to whom Rashford dedicated his goals, had died in the build-up to the game. 'I went and saw him in the summer, had a long chat with him and he had some clear ideas on things that he felt he needed to think about and to do. 'He could have had a hat-trick, really, with the chance in the first half and then the one at the near post towards the end. 'But great for him and because it's great for him it's great for us.' Marcus Rashford scored two goals for England against Wales including a stunning free-kick Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility