England captain Harry Kane insists the team will go into their World Cup clash against France with “more belief” than in their run to the semi-final four years ago.
Kane will lead England into their quarter-final meeting with the reigning world champions at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday night.
Victory would see England reach consecutive World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history and remove questions over their ability to beat the very best opposition.
Kane was pivotal to the team that reached the last-four in Russia – winning the golden boot – and also as Gareth Southgate’s side lost the Euro 2020 final on penalties to Italy last summer.
Now though, the Tottenham striker feels the squad truly have faith they can go all the way in Qatar.
“I think looking back, in 2018 we didn’t really know what to expect from the group,” he said on the eve of the France contest.
“Of course we went there with the belief we could win, it was almost a new experience for a lot of us, we got to the semi-final there and everyone was over the moon. Whether we had the full belief we could win the tournament, I’m not quite sure.
“We backed that up in the Euros by getting to a final we lost by missing a couple of kicks of the ball. Belief has been building for four or five years now and we entered this tournament hoping and knowing we can win it.
“Now it is about pushing on, we face a really tough game tomorrow but I know everyone is ready, we are prepared and we will get into that game with more belief than perhaps we did in 2018.”
England have won six major tournament knockout games under Southgate – equalling their record from the previous 48 years.
Taking on the World Cup holders is the most difficult challenge they have faced in tournament football during Southgate’s tenure but Kane says England would not be happy to return to their Al Wakrah base to pack their bags tomorrow night.
“We’re not here just to reach a quarter-final, put it that way,” he added. “We know there are some very good teams in this tournament but we also know we’re a very good team as well.
“If we did lose tomorrow we’d be as disappointed as anyone – between us, the players, staff, everyone involved, we have a real belief and determination to be successful as an England team.
“We can only prove that on the pitch, by winning games like tomorrow.
“Also tomorrow isn’t the World Cup final, it’s another step to trying to win the World Cup. We have to be fully focused on that and just trying to get through to the next round.”
