Not even England's most passionate supporters would suggest that winning this week's Nations League Finals would compare with a World Cup triumph but after last year's excitement, Gareth Southgate's men are now eyeing soccer's newest trophy.

England's run to the semifinals in Russia reconnected their fans with the national team and the wins over Croatia and Spain in the Nations League group stage showed further progress.

They also earned Southgate's side a place in the competition's final four, where they will take on the Netherlands in Guimaraes on Thursday with a place in Sunday's final against Portugal or Switzerland on the line.

The fact that England have not won anything at senior level since their solitary World Cup triumph in 1966 gives Southgate's side the sense that a triumph will make a mark.

"It's still a chance to win a trophy in an England shirt, and 1966 was a long time ago," said captain Harry Kane.

"We're going to try and take full advantage. We all want to win trophies and have the experience of sharing that with the group and the fans, so it's a huge incentive. The fans are going to be out in numbers and hopefully be part of history," added the forward.

Kane returned from a seven-week injury layoff in Tottenham's 2-0 defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League ­final in Madrid on Saturday, looking some way short of full sharpness.

Southgate's squad features three other Spurs players in Eric Dier, Danny Rose and Dele Alli, while Jordan Henderson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez were part of the winning Liverpool squad.

But Kane says there will be no hangover from that contest once the players find themselves preparing together.

"When we come here everyone's fully focused on here. You don't have to talk to people about switching off from club football. Everyone just naturally does it and I think the fact we've played with each other in club sides and younger England sides [means] we're all good friends," he said.

"Whether you're at Spurs or [Manchester] City or Liverpool, we've known each other long enough that we've become mates."

While more games at the end of a long, hard season might see some tired legs in action, defender Michael Keane believes that the chance of silverware makes sure motivation will be high.

"There's massive excitement. It's the first time the Nations League Finals is happening and it'd be great to be the first team to win that," he said.