England defender John Stones said he is fit and ready to play in their Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland tomorrow despite training in a bulky knee brace, adding that the late victory over Slovakia in the last 16 was a turning point.
“All good,” Stones said of his knee. “Looks worse, obviously, (with) the heavy strapping than what I’ve done. So I’m all good.”
England have had four underwhelming games but grabbed a lifeline when Jude Bellingham leapt to fire home a stunning bicycle kick in the 95th minute against Slovakia to avoid elimination. Harry Kane sealed the deal with an extra time goal in the 2-1 win.
“It is a turning point for us emotionally, to do it in a high-pressured moment, the last few minutes, it is going to change a lot of things for us as a team, going through the emotions,” Stones told a press conference.
“There is a great picture of us celebrating that (Bellingham) goal and all the bench are up and all the staff are up off the seats. It shows that unity and togetherness as a team. When you have done those things you believe you can do it better and when it gets tough, you know we can do it again.”
To shut out feelings of doubt in the dying minutes, the 30-year-old Stones drew strength from an “iconic moment” – when Manchester City roared back from a two-goal deficit to beat Aston Villa and win the Premier League title in 2022.
“I was trying to use that in the game to get out of that mindset and change into a positive – it paid off,” said Stones, adding the team spent an afternoon off with family after the emotional and physical drain of that game. With 76 caps, Stones is England’s anchor in the back line in Germany and he is desperate to capture some international silverware.
“It’s the biggest thrill for me that I can get out of playing, that winning feeling, to create history for us as a nation, for everyone back home, for me personally and the lads to do something that’s never been done before and lift this trophy,” Stones said.
“And that comes with all the trophies that I’ve won, that hunger... you can’t really coach or learn, you’re just born with it, that come around winning a football game or going that extra yard to try and make it happen. That’s the dream, that’s the belief that I have.”
Gareth Southgate will manage his 100th game for England and Stones was full of praise for the coach who has been criticised for the team’s lacklustre showing in Germany. “He’s changed our culture within our team, which is extremely difficult with players coming from different club environments,” Stones said. “To feel so comfortable within everyone’s company, on the pitch, the humility, the winning mentality.”
The winner tomorrow will face either the Netherlands or Turkiye in the semi-finals.
