When asked whether he related to the roller-coaster experience Southgate had endured in Germany – having initially drawn criticism from fans and pundits – Starmer added: “I could totally relate to that. When I started as Labour leader people said, ‘you’re not going to get over the line… You’re not going quick enough… you’ll never turn it around in five years and get a Labour Government’.
“Gareth obviously starts this [tournament] and people say ‘it’s not good enough’ etc. I always said from the get-go by the way, this is a fantastic squad. This is a great manager who will get the best out of them. I’m really really pleased they’ve got this far and they should be so proud. We’re all really proud, with our country behind them.
“But you know, I’ve been at England games so many times. People need to get that combination of being here and getting it over the line.”
Starmer remains a season ticket holder at Arsenal but he said he does not know whether he will now have time to go to games or keep up with his regular five-a-side football sessions.
He said he was “very proud of” England’s Arsenal contingent but he is equally “proud of the whole squad, though – phenomenal”.
“I think there’s such optimism,” he said of the mood in England. “I’ve just come from London. It’s breathing optimism. In the summer, for us to win this would be really fantastic.”
Pundits on ITV were upbeat about England’s prospects ahead of kick-off. “I think they’re more equipped to win this game than they were in the last final,” said Roy Keane of England.
