Jack Wilshere interview: England can win World Cup with Thomas Tuchel factor, Harry Kane’s goals and physical dominance in midfield | Football news

Jack Wilshere has faced the burden of expectations associated with representing England in the World Cup. He was heard shutting down the squad when they exited the group stage in Brazil in 2014.

It is therefore worth listening to when the former midfielder, who has switched to management with Luton Town, says this the group is different. Wilshere is confident the class of 2026 can withstand the pressure and bring home the trophy for the first time since 1966.

It starts, he says, with the head coach. Thomas Tuchel, who won the Champions League with Chelsea, brought great managerial acumen to the role. But Wilshere highlights another point of difference to Gareth Southgate and Roy Hodgson.

“There were a lot of questions when Thomas got the job, people were saying, ‘Oh, the English manager should be English’.

“I think Gareth Southgate has done a great job of bringing everyone together. But really, if you’re from England, you feel the same pressure. I think back to my experience at the World Cup. is something pressure, there is something the expectation you really feel.

“But now you have someone who can hear that.”

Wilshere believes England’s opening game against Croatia, where Tuchel’s half-time speech inspired a 4-2 victory following a difficult first-half, showed the importance of the German side’s exit to England’s footballing psyche.

“In the first half we had some good moments, some good moments, but we didn’t look comfortable or that confident.

“Then in the second half, I think you saw a different team, when you had a manager who went into the break and said, ‘Yes, I understand all that, but this is how we are going to win that game, forget all that expectation, forget all that pressure’.

“And we have players who can finish it.

“There will be tough tests, for sure. Tough tests for the opposition, and tough tests under the conditions. I think a lot will depend on how we deal with those conditions.

“But, in my opinion, we’ve got one of the best teams, physically, that we’ve had in a few years, and I saw things one night that I’ve never seen in an England team.

“So, yes, I’m sure we can go all the way this time.”

Wilshere was talking to him Sky Sports on Zoom ahead of England’s second leg match against Ghana as part of his role as eBay Live producer Exhibition: 7s v 10slive broadcast of the meeting that took place on Sunday where he will talk about No. 7 and No. 10 football with Landon Donovan as fans ask for souvenirs.

Both numbers have meaning to him.

Wilshere received the No 10 from Robin van Persie at Arsenal in 2012 but wore the No 7 as an academy player and idolized David Beckham growing up. “I think of many games when he was leading the country with the number 7 on his back.”

Wilshere is a collector of memorabilia himself. “And not just football,” he adds. “I have a few Tiger Woods things that I got off eBay.” Mainly, however, his collection is made up of memorabilia from his playing days, including his England celebrations, proudly displayed on the wall behind him in his home office.

I am confident that we can go all this time

34 in total, a number that would be much higher if not for injuries. Two years younger than Jordan Henderson at 34, it’s not a stretch to say that Wilshere could be with the club this summer if his career progresses as expected following his impressive success with club and country at a young age.

A brilliant and mysterious specialist, Wilshere possessed qualities that England lacked in midfield at the time. He showed them in the most memorable way by playing Brazil in 2013 and playing two goals against Slovenia in 2015.

Now seeing the game through the eyes of a coach, however, he accepts the emphasis has changed. Technical level is always important but physical strength is equally important. Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham have it in abundance.

“I think they are a completely different team physically.

“We’ve had great midfielders over the years, and I’m not saying this midfielder is the best midfielder we’ve ever had, but I think physically, he might be. They have the strength and the ability to dominate duels, to dominate large areas of the pitch.

“They have quality as well, which really helps, but I feel that today’s football is about that, about having players who can dominate physically, and we have that.”

I’m not saying this midfielder is the best midfielder we’ve ever had, but I think physically, maybe

It’s another thing in a long line that separates this England team from before, according to Wilshere, and convinces him that they can go a long way.

“Number one is that they have the experience of reaching the finals,” he said, referring to the last two European Championships.

“They have the experience of being the team that Gareth brought back and everyone loved, that could do no wrong, suddenly, in the last competition, faced a bit of difficulty.

“They haven’t played that well, but they’ve gone through their times and put the nation back together, so they have the experience of that.”

Wilshere points out that England also has outstanding players, one of them, Harry Kane, against Ghana who has scored two goals against Croatia following a good season of 61 goals with Bayern Munich.

“We have had players over the years. Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, players like that. But it seemed to me that when they got to the tournaments, they couldn’t get the form right.

“I think Harry Kane can – and he is. He’s talking about Kylian Mbappe, he’s talking about Argentina’s Lionel Messi, he’s talking about all these great players. He’s in that conversation, and that really helps.”

Wilshere highlights the importance of another scorer against Croatia. “Jude (Bellingham) too,” he said. “I think this is a big tournament for Jude, and Jude will be very important for us.

“I think maybe he had a little bit of a frustrating year where he didn’t play as well as he might have wanted, but actually that might help us now. So, I think there are a few things, but maybe the biggest one is the physical strength that we have now.”

The game against Ghana will provide further clues as to whether the pieces are ready. Wilshere will be watching, and hoping they can succeed where previous generations have failed.

Jack Wilshere hosts eBay Live’s Showdown: 7s v 10s on Sunday June 28 at 2.30pm as the most iconic football shirt numbers go head-to-head, with signed memorabilia and live auctions.