Jack Wilshere says the new-look England squad are in a “strong position” heading into the European Championship.
Roy Hodgson’s side have only lost two of their past 21 games since the World Cup two years ago, and won all of their qualifiers for Euro 2016.
Wilshere is confident England will produce when it matters most - starting in Saturday’s Group B opener against Russia.
“I think we are in a strong position - we have changed a lot since the World Cup,” he told Arsenal Player. “It was put to us by the manager to really evolve as a team.
“A lot of players left. Lampard and Gerrard were big names and big players in the team and we almost had to rebuild.
“The team has changed over the last two years, and people have come in like Dele Alli and Harry Kane, who has really become one of the best strikers in the world. Even the likes of Adam Lallana, who was at the World Cup and didn’t play, and Raheem Sterling.
“They are players who can really change a game, plus the likes of Ross Barkley. If people aren’t [in the starting XI] and we need a goal, there are players who can come on and do that for us.
“A lot of people wrote us off but we got through the qualification process with no problems. I know they were not all tough games but you still have to beat what is in front of you.
“We have had a few friendlies as well where we have shown people what we can do, and we are confident we can get out of the group - then anything can happen.”
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