
A runners-up spot in Group G would ensure England avoid a potential quarter-final with Brazil, yet Gary Neville insists Southgate's side can not play to lose against Belgium.
Southgate has always publicly insisted England will play to win the game although he has spoken about keeping the group happy.
And Southgate said recent World Cup results have refocused England minds.
Despite a huge scare for Lionel Messi´s Argentina, who needed a late goal from Marcos Rojo to edge through to the knockout phase on Tuesday, all of the tournament´s remaining big guns are through to the last 16 in Russian Federation.
The World Cup knockout bracket has already begun to take shape, and it's clear that one side of the bracket is a much more challenging path to the final.
"World Cups are all about momentum", he said.
"We're trying to develop a winning mentality and I can't imagine a situation where I stand in front of the group of players I've got and start talking to them about anything else", said the former under-21s coach.
After a last-gasp 2-1 win against Tunisia and then a 6-1 thrashing of a Panama team who, as Rio Ferdinand said, had all the quality of a non-league side, suddenly "football's coming home". "Why we would be starting to plot which would be a better venue for our semi-final is beyond me really".
More news: AT&T's new unlimited plans still cheaper than Verizon'sThe Three Lions booked their place in the last 16 by defeating Tunisia and Panama in their opening two group matches. Eden Hazard vs England should be rested.
Captain Harry Kane is the top goalscorer at the World Cup with five goals so far and the Tottenham talisman is likely to start against Belgium.
But Southgate did concede he would probably make some changes for a clash that neither side needs to win.
Gareth Southgate is considering his team selection for the game in Kaliningrad on Thursday, when the section will be claimed, and is expected to make a handful of changes to freshen up his side's approach. "At that point it was one or the other", the ex-Wigan Athletic and Everton manager added. I don't think it would be professional of us to put those players at a risk of missing the knockout phase. "There are players who have been in very demanding games so its very important for us to protect and give every player the best opportunity to be in the best condition in the knockout games".
And Vardy is to get the nod tonight despite Kane battling for the Golden Boot.
'It's so hard to make a prediction on the game given we don't know what the England or Belgium teams are going to be, but I don't see either side taking their foot off the gas. Families and friends of other squad players are traveling out for the Belgium game in the hope they will play.
"For England to face Brazil in the last eight, it'll be tough".
But Southgate refused to entertain such a thought.
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