Talking tactics: Gerrard (right) with Roy Hodgson as England prepare to face Italy on Sunday

He added: ‘This is a fantastic moment for this team and this group of players. It’s important that we grasp it and don’t go home with any regrets. The only thing we can do is try and play at a good level, leave everything out there and give your best. Hopefully that’s enough to take you through.

‘Once you get to this stage and you can see what’s in sight, you start to dream. To lose any quarter-final match hurts so much.’

The captain underlined his determination to lead the team to a higher level of performance against opposition packed with talent, expressing his personal satisfaction at the way he has performed in the three qualifying matches. ‘I’m enjoying the tournament, personally,’ he said. ‘I’m playing at a good level, but there’s still a lot of hard work and good performances needed before I get out of this tournament what I want, personally and also as a team.

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