Harry Maguire has revealed that the England squad never truly believed they would - or could - win the last World Cup but, four years on, it’s different.
Saturday will see England take on world champions France in the last of four quarter-finals. Win and the Three Lions would match their semi-final run from Russia in 2018, which was England’s first in 28 years and saw the players receive a heroes’ welcome upon their return.
And Maguire, who was a star performer during England’s run to the Euro 2020 final last summer, says he and his team-mates will be not satisfied unless they win the World Cup in Qatar.
“I think that’s the one thing I’d say that’s a lot different from the 2018 squad to this squad. I think we really believe that it is possible,” Maguire said at England’s Al Wakrah training camp.
“I played in 2018 and we got to the semi-final and I think a lot of the lads were happy. You were happy to be part of the semi-final.
“You know that whatever happened in that semi-final that you’d go home and be classed as a hero when you get home you’d get a good reception and everyone would be patting you on the back.
“I think now there’s a belief that we’ve got to win this tournament. It is a good change in the mentality. Of course, we know how tough it is going to be.
“I think there are probably five or six teams with the same belief. But in 2018, we probably weren’t one of those teams that had that belief. Now there’s five or six who have that belief and we’re one of them.”
Maguire has been one of his country’s best players in Qatar despite his Manchester United form being so poor the captain lost his starting spot.
The centre-back insists he is not overly concerned by criticism but believes his harshest reviews are reserved for the domestic game.
“At Manchester United, I’m under a lot more scrutiny,” he added. “Everything I do gets analysed. Every pass I make gets analysed. Every goal we concede is a defender’s fault and if you’re playing week in, week out as I did for three years, the last year hasn’t been good enough.
“Everyone in the team didn’t play well enough and we came under a lot of scrutiny as players. No one came out of the season with plaudits, so it was a general team issue last season, but this one has been much better.”
This is the first year I’ve really sat on a bench in a few games ... I’ll fight to get my place back.
He added: “This is the first year I’ve really sat on a bench in a few games. I obviously got an injury as well, a thigh injury that kept me out for four weeks, but I’ll fight to get my place back.
“But again, I draw back to past experiences. I went into the Euros on the back of an eight-week injury, no minutes at all. After my thigh injury, I managed to play two 90 minutes for Manchester United.
“I felt like they were good 90 minutes as well, I won both games, I felt like I was coming into a little bit of form as well, I played West Ham and Aston Villa. I’ve drawn back on the Euros.
“The second game I felt better than the first game and I think now I’m in a rhythm of playing games. That’s four games so I feel in a good place.”
Maguire’s United team-mates, though, have made sure to let him know they are thinking of him.
“I have had a couple of texts from them. I think while I am away they want me to focus fully on England but I have had a couple of nice texts from them saying how well I’ve performed and congratulations on reaching the quarter-finals and things like that. It’s nice,” he added.
“I think they’re currently away in sunny Spain… I actually think it is raining over there. I am sure they’ll be watching the games. I am sure Erik will be supporting the Oranje army. I’ve had a couple of texts and it is good to feel their support. “
