Stevie: We're gaining momentum
Steven Gerrard guided England into the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 courtesy of an inspiring skipper's display against Ukraine on Tuesday night - and then insisted: "we're gaining momentum at the right time."
The captain was head and shoulders above the rest on a night when he pressed and harried the opposition, sprayed pin-point passes about the park and provided the assist for England's only goal in the 1-0 win.
And now Gerrard has his sights set firmly on ensuring the Three Lions continue to exceed expectations over the coming weeks.
"It was a difficult group and the idea was to try and win it," said the skipper. "No-one believed in us at the start but we're gaining momentum at the right time.
"I don't think the performance was fantastic, but we stuck together and got the job done and won 1-0 against a good team.
"We've been criticised in the past for not turning up, under-performing and we can take that, we're man enough. But you saw a reaction.
"When you get criticised, it's not nice and you have to react by playing better and I think that's what we did."
Co-hosts Ukraine felt they had been dealt an injustice when Marko Devic's shot appeared to have crossed the line before John Terry could hook it to safety.
However, England came away with the win and Roy Hodgson's men will now face Italy on Sunday in the quarter-finals.
Topping the group means the Three Lions will avoid clashing with reigning world champions Spain but Gerrard knows that if England are to progress further in the competition, meeting the Spaniards at some point could prove inevitable.
"Italy are next, they've got match-winners and we have to give them respect," said Gerrard. "And if we do well in the next game we might play Spain again in the competition."