How Royal Marines Helped England To The World Cup Semi-Finals

Gareth Southgate has praised the impact the Royal Marines have had on his side (Left image: Royal Navy, right image: PA).

The England manager has praised the impact a commando training session by the Royal Marines has had on his players.

As chants and renditions of 'Three Lions' continue to circulate around the nation, Gareth Southgate has been keen to point out that this new togetherness found within the camp stemmed from the Royal Marines.

In an interview with the BBC, he was asked why the players do not use their phones while eating dinner.

He confirmed it was not a plan that he had drafted up, but something from the military: "I think it stems from our trip to the Royal Marines last year, where we were out camping and phones didn't work.

"We thought 'this is carnage, they won't be able to last two days' but they really enjoyed it and they recognised that it did make them speak with each other, it did connect them."

Gareth Southgate, who earned 57 caps for England as a player, said: "They are an elite organisation who represent our country incredibly proudly.

“It was good for our guys to get an understanding of the fact that when they represent their country the consequences of failure are far more serious.

“It is putting it in the context of playing a football match."

On Twitter, 40 Commando RM posted: "Congratulations England.

"The last national team to train with the Royal Marines went on to win the World Cup. Just saying!"

Last year, the squad spent the weekend in Devon in army fatigues, completing a series of exercises designed for marine recruits.

These included a night camping under the stars on Woodbury Common, a four-mile hike with 21 kilos on their backs and underwater exercises.

Southgate said at the time:

"These guys represent Queen and country, and we do the same - but the consequences of failure for the Royal Marines are far higher.

"That gives us a good context and comparison.

"We wanted to come and put the guys into a different environment, something they weren't expecting.

"The Marines talk about a dislocated expectation, and that was part of the theme of the camp - how will we be adaptable in moments of difficulty for us as a team?

"We wanted to expose the guys to an elite environment with one of the elite forces in the world. We wanted them to see that there's another world out there."

Members of the forces community celebrate England's win in the World Cup quarter-final.

Then last month, manager Gareth Southgate hailed the "big impact" meeting injured service personnel from the Royal Marines had on his players.

A World Cup semi-final against Croatia is the only thing that now stands between the Three Lions and a final showdown against France. 

Some members of the Royal Marines who trained the squad in 2017 say they are still in contact with the team.

Corporal Ben Williams told The Sun: “The relationships have stayed as a friendship and we’ve communicated with them just as we would with our own friends.

“Like any friends you wish them good luck, there’s no giving too much advice.

"It’s a case of reminding them of that spirit of what we went through.

"We just wish them the best of luck.

"They have been hugely appreciative.

"We went through everything they did, we stripped it back to basics - put people through adverse conditions together and you form unity and you form bonds."