ENGLAND great Paul Ince has praised the diversity of the Euros squad — highlighting quarter-final goal hero Bukayo Saka.
The 58-year-old, the only black player in the Euro ’96 starting line-up, also applauded Three Lions fans for helping expose the racists who have abused Gareth Southgate’s squad.
Ahead of tonight’s final against Spain, Ince said: “Saka, for such a young lad, has performed very well for England.
“There’s always going to be a few idiots who are going to criticise, and make racist remarks.
“That’s the society we live in, you’ll never change that.
“Everyone’s got to get behind the team. It’s a fantastic occasion for everyone, including the fans.”
Meanwhile, he is backing England to lift the trophy in Berlin tonight.
The former Manchester United ace told The Sun on Sunday in an exclusive interview: “We’ve got a chance of making history. Maybe it’s aligned with the stars. Maybe it’s our time. I honestly believe it.
“I’ve got this feeling again with this team. It’s our time. It’s so overdue.
“Let’s win and forget the hoodoo of 58 years without a major trophy. I’ve had enough of the ‘Football’s Coming Home’ tag.”
On tackling racism, Ince said: “Credit to Saka and Marcus Rashford who have come out of that horrible situation in the last final and moved on with their careers.
“The FA and Professional Footballers’ Association, managers, players, and the media have done so much to try and out these people and educate that we won’t tolerate this type of discrimination against all different creeds and colours.
“The message is getting out there. Would I like to go a bit quicker? Yes, I would. But the good thing for me now is that fans are outing their own fans.
“You’re not getting away with these remarks and insults.”
The midfielder recalled the hullabaloo around the build-up to Euro ’96, when the players let their hair down with a drinking game in Hong Kong after warm-up matches.
He said: “When I hear Jude Bellingham talking about the siege mentality within the ranks. I totally get that.
“We were getting slaughtered in 1996 from all corners, so there was that siege mentality within the camp. Today’s team can do the same.”
Ince said nothing would change the way his old England and Middlesbrough team-mate Gareth Southgate prepared for the final — despite getting flak early on.
‘Chance of making history’
He added: “Does it really matter now? No, because we’ve got a chance of making history.
“That’s the good thing about it. All the criticism won’t bother Gareth.
“He’s one of those really calm people. He doesn’t let things fluster him. He knows that as soon as you take the job you’re going to be out there for criticism.
“Southy has been in the job long enough now, for eight years. It’s just water off a duck’s back. People are always going to have an opinion, that’s the great thing about football.
“But Gareth has changed. At the World Cup, he would never take Harry Kane off.
“We’ve seen a different side to Southgate where he’s now prepared to make those changes. Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins have come on and made a difference.
“Gareth has tried to make changes to benefit the side.”
Ince said of preparations for the 8pm clash: “Gareth and the players will be chilled. You’ve got to try and relax the players.
“We did a lot of fun games, racing nights, just not focusing too much on the job in hand.
We’ve seen a different side to Southgate where he’s now prepared to make those changes
Paul Ince
“That will come tonight once they walk into that stadium.
“It’s important the senior players recognise anyone who’s worried. Everyone’s going to be nervous.
“It’s hard not to show. A little bit of nerves is good.”
The player-turned-pundit, who managed teams including Blackburn Rovers and Reading, said: “It’s sad if you think about the 58 years since we’ve won a major trophy.
“Think about the generations of retired footballers — Bryan Robson, Kevin Keegan, Paul Scholes, Steven Gerrard.
“Great, great players like Paul Gascoigne and Alan Shearer. Yes, we’ve been unlucky along the way but it’s sad for us as a nation.
“But the pressure today might come from the fact we lost to the Italians in the last Euros final. That would be more on the players’ minds than anything else.
“Spain tonight is just another game. History makers? I don’t think that will be going anywhere near their minds.
“We have to peak. We’re probably playing the best team in the tournament in Spain. Their style of football has got past the Germans, and the French.
‘England will win’
“There haven’t been that many outstanding games in the tournament. The quality of the Euros hasn’t ultimately been great.
“England have underperformed but we’ve still managed to reach the finals, which is a great thing for us.
“We’ve shown a lot of character, going down and coming back. We’ve had a bit of luck, too. It’s about coming together.”
Ince, who was too nervous to watch the Euro ’96 penalty shoot-out, said he was much calmer now.
He will watch the game, glass of white wine in hand, at home with his wife. He said: “All my mates said to come to the pub but I said absolutely no chance — I want to watch it in peace.
“At least if I’m watching it, nervous and jumping around, I don’t look like an idiot like I would if I’m watching it in the pub.”
And his score prediction. “I think England will win 2-1,” he said.
