Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole believes that England are capable of winning the World Cup this summer in South Africa.
The 29-year-old and the rest of the Three Lions final World Cup squad will fly to Johannesburg on Tuesday and Cole is adamant that the team’s sole ambition in South Africa is to win the tournament and be crowned world champions for the second time.
"I think we can win it and that's what we're going there to do,” Cole told The Mirror.
"I'm not going to say we ARE going to win the World Cup but I am willing to say we're good enough to win it.
"If you look at players like Stevie G, Lamps, Rio and Rooney, we have some great players in that team.
"And so, if we all play well on the day and have a bit of luck, you never know."
Despite shaky victories in warm-up matches against Mexico and Japan, England is confident that they will be playing their best when they open their World Cup against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.
In addition to USA, England are matched with Slovenia and Algeria in Group C, leaving the Three Lions as the heavy favourites to win the group.
With a possible quarter-final match-up against France, who struggled to a 1-1 draw against Tunisia on Sunday, Cole acknowledged that England gained a favourable draw, avoiding some of the top teams in the early stages.
"When the draw was made, I think there were a few teams we'd have liked to have missed - and we managed to miss them.
"What's important is that we're not over-confident and I don't think we are going to be going into the competition.
"But we feel that if we play as well as we can, to our capabilities, I don't think we'll have a problem at all."
The Chelsea star has been a mainstay for England at the last two World Cups and could break Bobby Moore and Terry Butcher’s record for finals appearances for a Three Lions defender if he appears in five games in South Africa.
The 29-year-old and the rest of the Three Lions final World Cup squad will fly to Johannesburg on Tuesday and Cole is adamant that the team’s sole ambition in South Africa is to win the tournament and be crowned world champions for the second time.
"I think we can win it and that's what we're going there to do,” Cole told The Mirror.
"I'm not going to say we ARE going to win the World Cup but I am willing to say we're good enough to win it.
"If you look at players like Stevie G, Lamps, Rio and Rooney, we have some great players in that team.
"And so, if we all play well on the day and have a bit of luck, you never know."
Despite shaky victories in warm-up matches against Mexico and Japan, England is confident that they will be playing their best when they open their World Cup against the United States in Rustenburg on June 12.
In addition to USA, England are matched with Slovenia and Algeria in Group C, leaving the Three Lions as the heavy favourites to win the group.
With a possible quarter-final match-up against France, who struggled to a 1-1 draw against Tunisia on Sunday, Cole acknowledged that England gained a favourable draw, avoiding some of the top teams in the early stages.
"When the draw was made, I think there were a few teams we'd have liked to have missed - and we managed to miss them.
"What's important is that we're not over-confident and I don't think we are going to be going into the competition.
"But we feel that if we play as well as we can, to our capabilities, I don't think we'll have a problem at all."
The Chelsea star has been a mainstay for England at the last two World Cups and could break Bobby Moore and Terry Butcher’s record for finals appearances for a Three Lions defender if he appears in five games in South Africa.
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