Fifa World Cup: Destiny calls as England prepare to face Colombia

England head coach Gareth Southgate speaks during news conference on the eve of the match between Colombia and England. Photo / AP

Destiny calls. England face Colombia in their World Cup round of 16 tie in Moscow with Gareth Southgate urging his team to seize this opportunity, this golden chance and what could even be the chance of a lifetime in a tournament that has suddenly become wide open.

"Life is always about opportunity presenting itself and taking control of it, taking charge of it," the England manager said. "We said we didn't want this tournament to take hold of us and push us around. We wanted to attack it and make sure we were in charge of our destiny.

"Of course, when you get to these games it's really fine margins. So there are games you know that if you want to be a team that progresses and has success then you have to win these matches. With all our preparations around that we feel we are in a good place. We have to stop talking and go and deliver."

It is a fine line. Southgate is understandably urging against considering the possibilities, should England prevail against Colombia, in a bottom half of the draw that would then mean either they, Sweden, Switzerland, Croatia or Russia will be in the final on July 15.

But it is difficult for others, at least, not to dream of that – or, firstly, the potentially transformative effect of winning a knockout tie for the first time since 2006.

"As a team and a squad you want to write your own story and history. We can't look too far ahead," Southgate urged. "We have a massive game tomorrow. We have to go out and put on a good display and performance and get ourselves through. That's what we're thinking about. That's what we're concentrating most on."

An immediate shackle to lift is the traumatic effect of England's defeat by Iceland at this stage of Euro 2016, which ushered out Roy Hodgson as manager, when the team froze, fearing the worst and ultimately delivering just that.

England's Harry Kane reacts after he throws a dart as he takes part in a journalists challenge at the England media centre at the 2018 soccer World Cup. Photo / AP

"What we sense in the group is an excitement," Southgate argued when that spectre was raised. "An understanding that it's pointless looking beyond tomorrow, and that was a trap we've fallen [into] in the past. A few of these players were in the last championships in a fixture they thought they should win, and then once behind they suddenly felt that approach wasn't one that was correct.

"We won't fall into that trap, up against a really good team. You can see how tight all the knockout matches are. But we're in there with all the teams we're discussing, and it's a brilliant place to be. Of course, I can see everybody is more excited as the team progresses, but we have to think separately of what everybody else is thinking otherwise we just get carried away on the wave of emotion."

That focus will definitely need to be there against Colombia, the winners of Group H, ahead of Japan, Senegal and Poland, who will be highly dangerous opponents especially if James Rodriguez recovers from his calf injury. They are led by a wily coach in Jose Pekerman and have Radamel Falcao and Juan Cuadrado with points to prove after their difficult times in England.

Juan Quintero is emerging as one of the stars of this World Cup and they possess tall, dominant centre-halves in Davinson Sanchez and Yerry Mina. If England allow them space, as Southgate pointed out, in the manner that Poland did, then it could be very damaging.

Against that, Southgate is set to revert to the team who beat Tunisia in their opening Group G fixture, which means a return for the eight players rested in the Belgium match and a fit-again Dele Alli replacing Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The manager gambled in that game and his argument that it was about "tournament strategy" and giving additional preparation time with fresher players is about to be tested in the first true challenge England have had at this World Cup.

"I want the players to continue to attack the tournament as we have," Southgate reiterated. "That shouldn't change in the knockout stage. We should feel freer."

It is a long time since England have felt free in these games but Southgate was keen to stress that this is a new group of players and although they wear the same shirt as their predecessors they are responsible only for their history – and not that of their predecessors.

"This team should not be burdened by previous teams, who had far more experience and far more decorated players. It would not be fair to put that weight on their shoulders," Southgate said. "We have to separate history from what this team are trying to do.

"You always have to have aims and ambitions, dreams and goals. That's important. At a World Cup, we're in the business of bringing hope and excitement to a whole nation. That's a privileged position to be in. I have huge belief in what we're doing, as manager. In the end, it's my responsibility."

Southgate is aware of the growing excitement back in England. "Whenever people say, 'I don't care about international football' that tends to be during the season and when you come to a big tournament it is not just football fans, it is granddad, it is aunt, it is everyone supporting the team," Southgate said.

"We have all been hurt by disappointment but maybe some of our expectations at times have been a little unrealistic. I think we have had more realism about what we have done this time and we should all enjoy the journey.

"Whenever I have been to tournaments, it has been a carnival and a festival of football and we have often overlooked that."

It will certainly be a carnival should England win.