Harry Kane says he feels like a “proud older brother” to England's “fearless” young players and believes the squad has the right blend of youth and experience to win the World Cup.
Jude Bellingham, 19, Phil Foden, 22, and Bukayo Saka, 21, are all expected to keep their places in the side for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against France after starring in the 3-0 win over Senegal.
Gareth Southgate picked Foden and Saka to play alongside captain Kane ahead of more experienced options like Marcus Rashford and Jack Grealish, and the pair fully justified the manager's faith in the last-16 tie.
Bellingham and Foden played a key role in the first two goals, finished by Jordan Henderson and Kane, while the Manchester City winger crossed for Saka to bag the third in the second half.
“It's great to see, there's no bigger stage to go and do it,” said Kane, 29.
“These guys are fearless, they want to just play football and express themselves. I feel like we've got a great mix of experience and youth and when you look at the teams who have won big tournaments that's what they've had.
“To see the boys play how they're playing I'm almost like a proud older brother. It's great to see and that's what we need: to go into games with the mentality of ‘we're going to give it everything we've got’.”
Kane also pointed to the leadership of Henderson, the second oldest member of Southgate's squad, who is noticeably vocal on the pitch.
“Hendo is one of the best leaders I've played with," Kane said. “He's really vocal, he pushing players to the absolute max. That's why he's been great. In the games he's played he's been outstanding with the ball, outstanding without the ball and pushing everyone.
“The way we've been pressing, it's good to hear him behind me, pushing. That's what you need, you need different types of leaders amongst the team.
“That's what we have. Hendo is someone who, it doesn't matter who you are or what you've done, he'll keep pushing you and against Senegal it was an amazing performance by him.”
Meanwhile, Southgate will not put pressure on Raheem Sterling to return to Qatar after he flew home on Saturday following a burglary at his Surrey home.
Sterling missed the last-16 tie but the FA have made it clear that he can take as much time as he needs to be with his family and deal with the police investigation before potentially rejoining the squad.
