The City winger is the only player to find the back of the net so far for the Three Lions at this summer’s tournament, also grabbing the winner in their 1-0 triumph over the Czech Republic.
Those strikes helped secure top spot in Group D but the fact that he grew up in Brent, on the doorstep of England’s national stadium, adds greater personal significance for Sterling.
Indeed, the forward revealed that he’d always set himself the target of scoring should he play at Wembley in a major international tournament and, with two goals to his name in three matches, he’s passed that personal test with flying colours.
Asked what getting on the scoresheet under the famous arch meant to him, Sterling stressed that, with hard work and dedication, anything is within the realms of possibility.
He reflected: “In life, if you truly want something and believe in it, your energy is there and you’re obsessed with it, it’s going to happen.
“It was great to finally make that dream come true.
“I’d been building myself up for that moment for a long time.
“When I woke up that morning (of the Croatia game), I was in such high spirits.
“It was a difficult day because it was really hot, it was boiling! But you’ve just got to keep concentrating and wait for the opportunity.
“It came and it was a great feeling, scoring and winning 1-0 on the opening day was a lovely (experience).”
Sterling and City teammates John Stones, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden are back at Wembley on Tuesday 29 June for the knockout stages of Euro 2020.
The Three Lions’ reward for finishing top of the pile in Group D is a last 16 clash against Germany, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 (UK).
Die Mannschaft, with Ilkay Gundogan marshalling the midfield, successfully negotiated a daunting opening round, which included the current World and European champions in France and Portugal, by finishing second in Group F.
While Sterling is expecting England to be pushed to their absolute limits if they are to progress into the quarter-finals, he insists that to be the best you have to prove you can beat the best.
“We knew we were going to get second place in that group and knew it was going to be a challenge,” the City winger conceded.
“In this tournament you need these challenges, we need now to go against Germany and we need a big performance.
“If we want to win this tournament and be in with a shout you’ve got to put in those big performances against the big sides and we’re looking to do that on Tuesday.”
England welcome Germany to Wembley Stadium on Tuesday 29 June in the last 16 of Euro 2020, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 (UK).
You can find a comprehensive take on proceedings on mancity.com and our official app soon after the final whistle, with a particular focus on how our City stars have fared.
