The England trio of Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and Frank Lampard are bullish about the Three Lions’ chances at the World Cup next month.
Roy Hodgson has picked a relatively young squad for the trip to Brazil, with the average age of his 23-man contingent just 26.
The squad met up at a fundraising event on Sunday before jetting off to Portugal on Monday for a five-day training camp in Portugal in an attempt to adjust somewhat to the South American climate.
Speaking at the charity event, the Three Lions stars were in optimistic mood, and Gerrard sees “no harm in dreaming” from everyone connected with the team.
England skipper Gerrard told Sky Sports News: “You know, you always say to yourself ‘what if it does happen?’ and you prove all the doubters wrong and you go on to have a successful World Cup, so there’s no harm in dreaming.”
Gerrard’s Liverpool teammate Sturridge believes that the key to a successful tournament is to focus on their own capabilities rather than worrying about the opposition.
“It’s difficult to win competitions, you have to have a lot of luck on your side,” said Sturridge. “It’s important that we just go out there and play how we play, that’s the most important thing.
“If we go out and there and play how we play then I’m sure we’ll find we’ve got our identity and our support to go out there and impose ourselves on the opposition.
Chelsea midfielder Lampard echoed Sturridge’s claims by adding: “We just concentrate on ourselves, game by game and you get through the group and then you know that it’s knockout football and not that many games to get to a final.
“So we’re not looking too far ahead and concentrating on every game, and when they come go and win the game.”
Despite the young squad, Gerrard and Lampard enter the tournament with over 200 England caps between them, and Hodgson will be keen to utilise the experience of the midfielders before their campaign kicks off against Italy on June 14.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
