Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is confident England can end their World Cup drought by lifting the trophy this summer.
The Three Lions last lifted the World Cup on home soil in 1966, defeating West Germany in a fiercely contested final at Wembley Stadium.
England reached the FIFA World Cup semi-finals in 2018, their best showing for 28 years.
Saka was part of an England side that reached the quarter-finals of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, narrowly beaten by holders and eventual finalists France.
Depth And Balance
The 24-year-old insisted that they can emerge champions of the world for the second time this time around.
“I see strengths everywhere and I also see a lot of hunger and passion to win, which is a great balance and is what you need,” Saka told FIFA.com.
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“This team has so much talent, but at the same time so much competition. It’s healthy, it’s good, it’s a great environment and I think we’re all thriving.
“There’s loads of talent, loads of competition, and at the same time, we have a real sense of togetherness as well, so, it’s a great balance.”
Saka Keen To Emulate England’s Greats
Saka knows better than most that anything can happen in a major tournament.
Having come close in the past only to finish empty-handed, the winger is determined to go all the way this time and emulate England’s World Cup-winning team of 1966, captained by Bobby Moore and inspired by Geoff Hurst — still the only Three Lions side to win a major international trophy.
“As an England player, they set the standards for us as a team and obviously we want to follow in their footsteps and achieve what they have,” Saka added.
“That’s the dream. That’s what we’re working towards, and it would be very, very special if we could achieve that.”
Thomas Tuchel’s side are drawn in Group L with Croatia, Ghana, and Panama. They will begin their campaign against Croatia at the Dallas Stadium on Wednesday, 17 June.
