England national team train at military base

“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?

“There were some team objectives around pushing themselves beyond where they thought they could go and knowing you don’t want to let any of your team-mates down. 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,” Southgate told Telegraph Sport.

“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. For me, the greatest outcome was that we worked as one team – support staff and players. I think there was a real connection formed between everybody, and it was also a great life experience for everybody.

“We’re always thinking about football and the small world we’re in, but there are life experiences that’ll stay with you forever and I think this will stay with everyone – from our side and the Marines’ side. We’ve seen their standards and the pride they have in their identity and the Green Beret, which is a powerful message for us to link with the Three Lions. We’ve got to be brave in terms of how we play and what we do.”