Monday 20 June 2016 08:01, UK
Gary Cahill says England are determined to hit the Euro 2016 knockout stage as group winners despite already being assured of a top-three finish.
England are guaranteed a top-three place in Group B but know a win against Slovakia will give them top spot and a potentially easier tie in the last 16 of the tournament.
Having shrugged off the disappointment of conceding an injury-time equaliser to Russia with a late win over Wales in their second game, England have rediscovered the winning touch which gave them a 100 per cent record in qualifying for the tournament.
And Cahill says the players know they can make things slightly easier for themselves in the knockout round if they advance as group winners.
"To top the group gives us the best opportunity to move forward in the competition," the Chelsea centre-back told FA TV. "So that's our goal. We're all aware of that.
"We want to finish top and we feel that we're good enough to do that; we just need to prove against Slovakia.
"They need a result to stay in the competition as well and we know it's going to be a hard game."
Cahill also feels the dramatic nature of Thursday's victory over Wales made the win even more special and served as further proof of the good form in which England currently find themselves.
"The way the result went gave us a boost but the spirit has been the good in the camp anyway," he said. "We feel that we've been playing well and we felt hard done by in the first game because we did play well in that game.
"Football can be a cruel game sometimes but I thought we got what we deserved in the Wales game, even though it came late.
"I wouldn't say I prefer to do it like that but when it happens like that it is special. The atmosphere in the stadium was unbelievable."
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