Gareth Southgate revealed how England called upon the spirit of '66 to keep their Euro 2024 dream alive - and save his job.
Southgate and his staff showed the squad video footage of England's only major tournament triumph ahead of their departure for Germany.
And Southgate believes those clips inspired his players to fight until the death - just as they looked to be heading home - to set up a quarter-final clash with Switzerland in Dusseldorf.
He said: "We showed the players a presentation of 1966 and how Geoff Hurst hadn't played until the quarter-finals.
"We wanted to highlight the value of the squad, players like Jimmy Greaves were playing a different role for the team and tournaments take you into strange places, difficult routes - that side wasn't always flying and the same applies to us.
"All of the players that came on had a big impact - they all played important roles.
"It's that spirit that's got us over the line."
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Southgate claims he refused to accept elimination - despite trailing 1-0 heading into the final seconds before Jude Bellingham's stunning equaliser - in what was likely to be his final game at the helm.
He continued: "I had belief right the way through to get the goal - it was a night where I wasn't ready to go home yet, the players weren't either.
"The one thing that can't be questioned is our commitment, desire or character.
"We want to be better, I'm not going to hide from that but the spirit was there for all to see and we're still in there fighting."
Southgate also revealed instrumental sub Ivan Toney, who assisted the winner, was furious with the England boss over his lack of playing time.
He explained: "I knew Ivan Toney had the hump for not putting him on but I said to him 'this could be your moment.'"
