England manager explains Raheem Sterling role in unusual Jack Grealish substitution

Gareth Southgate said he had to take off one of his substitutes in extra time against Denmark because Raheem Sterling could not be replaced.

The Manchester City forward had started England's semi-final on Wednesday night and had been one of the best players on the pitch, with his pressure leading to Simon Kjaer turning the ball into his own net for the equaliser in the first half.

Sterling was joined in the game in the second half by first Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish and then City teammate Phil Foden as the Three Lions sought an all-important winner. As the first period of extra time was coming to an end, it was Sterling who slalomed his way into the box and won the penalty that Harry Kane converted on the rebound to put England ahead for the first time on the night.

With 15 minutes left to protect their lead, Southgate summoned for defender Kieran Trippier and took off Grealish despite the playmaker having only been on the pitch for 36 minutes.

Asked about the unusual call, the England manager pointed to the homework they had done on the Denmark team but also the havoc that Sterling was continuing to cause.

"We felt that we know the way Denmark have gone in their previous matches," he said. "They've had very clear strategies when they've gone behind, they've gone 4-2-4 and thrown everybody forward. We needed to keep pressure on at the front but have the numbers there to deal with the balls in the box.

"In the end, Raheem was causing so many problems and was so difficult to play all night that it was going to have to be Phil or Jack to come off. We made that decision, not an easy one but he totally understood it and in the end said 'Gaffer, I'm not really bothered we've got to the final!'

"But I must say I thought he had absolutely the impact we were looking for when he came into the game.

"Bukayo had actually settled into the game, he'd started a bit nervously but was playing well but we just thought that Jack could give us even more and Raheem running at [Jannik] Vestergaard on the other side was a change we fancied seeing as well."